Liverpool play away at Wolves tomorrow. It’s the perfect game for the Reds right now as they try and reignite their Premier League form.
Things are actually a little promising at Liverpool right now. They just beat RB Leipzig 2-0 but it was the manner of the win that really stood out.
The Reds were more than comfortable for most of the game. They created plenty of chances, looked decent enough at the back and controlled the midfield.
And we can thank Jurgen Klopp for all of that. He made a big call for the game, moving Fabinho back to midfield.
But there was more than that. Diogo Jota started up top and looked great. The Reds were dynamic going forward and solid at the back. It’s all great to see.
It sounds as though Klopp wants to stick with the plan, too.
“It looked really good,” he said, per the Liverpool Echo. “If they are physically ready to go again then why should we change it? That’s clear.
“You want to have consistency and we never had it [this season].”
So with that in mind, Wolves are ideal opponents.
Setup
Liverpool’s last two wins came against RB Leipzig and Sheffield United. And they do actually have something in common – they play three at the back.
As do Wolves, funnily enough. They can revert to four at times – and did so at Anfield – by typically they play with three cente-backs. The fact Liverpool beat them 4-0 in that game tells us they’ll likely go with three here.
The Reds are having joy against such a system, though, and when Klopp wants consistency, he couldn’t ask for anything more. It means he can stick to the same system and still expect a result.
Jota, in particular, made a big difference against Leipzig’s three. He forced them backwards, whereas Roberto Firmino tends to drop deep.
But with a back three, they can still afford to send someone with him and still have two covering players. They can crowd Liverpool’s forward as a result.
Jota always looks to run in behind, though. Doing so pushes the defenders back and creates – at the very least – a 3v3 against Liverpool’s forwards.
Even better, if allows for more space in midfield, which players like Thiago can use.
We shouldn’t leave out the fact it’s an away game, too. Liverpool struggle at Anfield right now – playing away offers a better chance at back-to-back wins.
So Klopp can get everything he wants from this. He can stick to a plan, he can expect a result, and he can hopefully generate some momentum heading into the international break.
This game should be exactly what the doctor ordered.
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