Right Side Configurations
Liverpool 3–1 Yokohama FM.
We should look to this game as the most interesting game of pre-season so far due to the lineup, Arne Slot fielded what I will take to be our strongest 11 so far. The match revealed some insights of which some will be topic of conversation in today’s writing. Attacking dynamics being the most obvious aspect to look to as Liverpool racked up 71% possession of the ball. The main question I will be investigating is this: with the inclusion of Wirtz, Trent’s departure and Szoboszlai’s role change, what does our right-hand side look like?
Last season Liverpool’s right-hand side consisted of these 3 players: Mohammed Salah, Trent Alexander Arnold and Szoboszlai. Within this selection we can loosely assign roles to each player and see how each player compliments the other. Salah and Trent functioning as passers compliments Szoboszlai’s ability run in behind from deeper positions. Szoboszlai’s ability to cover large amounts of ground allowed the other 2 to be a lot aggressive in their attacking positioning. Trent having the ability to pass from anywhere meant he could operate wider or narrower to connect with other team-mates, rotating seamlessly with other 2. I could go on, but the point here is dynamics here appear to be simple and complimentary.
Now, Trent has left the ship, Connor Bradley has come to the fore and Florian Wirtz has been introduced to the equation, oh and Szoboszlai has been moved into the double pivot position. From first viewing there have been some interesting things to note, let’s take a plunge into my match notes:
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Szoboszlai slightly lower, in the pivot. Receiving outside the block. Wirtz central floater, Bradley right centre midfield.
Bradley, Szo, Wirtz, Salah configuration — Salah width holder to allow him time and space to receive outside the block, Bradley can also dribble/carry forwards or pass in behind for anyone to run onto (trivela pass, first time diagonal, pass down the line, square pass into the centre). Gakpo, Bradely Szoboszlai and Ekitike as the recipients so far. This context fits best with Salah’s current capabilities.
Bradley is operating in the inside half space, essentially acting as the Szoboszlai of last season. Can reliably receive back to goal, attract pressure and play forwards, Strong running capacity to offer underlaps and overlaps to support Salah as well as the recovery running to stifle transitions. He often quickens the tempo of play when he receives in the half space by quickly pushing the ball onto Salah which in turn activates the runners, which in turn allows Salah to give us one of his trademark passes.
Wirtz is mostly operating in the centre, drifting around of course, but very much acting as that +1 wherever possible. Being given a lot of positional freedom in all the phases of play as even in buildup you see him dropping as the first receiver. We saw him introduce himself to the right-hand side a few times and connect quite well Salah. In situations where the spaces are tighter, he can help relieve us and help us find the spaces, the two spaces I am referring: the space on the other side (Gakpo) or the space in between the oppositions left-fullback and left centre-back (Salah or Ekitike).
Feels as though even though Szoboszlai is playing deeper, we have not diminished his goal threat, still seeing deep runs to break opposition lines when the moment is there, his running capacity means he can be effective and still be a threat. This deep role could be something to consider if you’re playing against big teams and want to fit him and Wirtz into the team. Passing range is now more apparent when he can cut onto his stronger foot. The issues Liverpool have faced regarding the midfield pivot being split open can somewhat have a plaster put on it now as Szoboszlai can cover ground horizontally much faster than MacAllister and Jones (contenders for that position).
This brings my enquiry into our new right-hand side to a close. There are lots of things to be impressed about, lots of things to consider. The dynamism and associative tendencies of that side has increased no doubt. we have now have added a runner in Bradley, a player who seems to love operating at faster tempos when attacking, Salah retains the same value whilst adding someone in Wirtz who will make our attacks down that side all the more complex with his ability to solve tight situations, Szoboszlai positioning has moved slightly away from this unit however it can be seen that he still retains much of his value and one could argue he could become even more valuable in his new position.
