Shifting shapes: Liverpool's pre-season plans hint at formation change

Liverpool's pre-season preparations kick off July 12, and after finding success last year with a 4-3-3 formation, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp admits that he's considered tinkering with that winning formula.

Asked about his pre-season ideas, Klopp told the club's website: "Tactically-wise, getting more flexible - depending who is there and when - and introducing different systems."

Klopp's planned adjustments are likely tethered to the addition of speedy winger Mohamed Salah and reported interest in RB Leipzig's Naby Keita, two players whose additions are both consistent with the German gaffer's preferred Gegenpressing and worthy of a tactical switch.

"(In 2015-16), we played most of the time kind of 4-2-3-1, (in 2016-17) most of the time 4-3-3 or 4-5-1. In our opinion, it fitted best to the players we had," Klopp added.

With a return to Champions League football, Klopp also understands that Liverpool requires tactical flexibility to acclimate with the varied continental styles not prevalent in Premier League play, and what better time to do that then in the pre-season?

"I'm not sure which way we have to play next year, there will be a few different ones. And we'll prepare for European football also, so we need a bigger squad of course. We'll be good. I'm looking forward to it."

Salah is sorted and Keita appears to be nearing a Merseyside move. With that in mind, here's a look at three ways the Reds could line up next season:

4-3-3: If it ain't broke ...

Used to great effect last season, the 4-3-3 formation highlighted both the threats of a pacey three-prong attack and a side that smothers opponents. With the addition of Salah, Philippe Coutinho can slot in to a central, creative role.

Should Keita make the Anfield move, he'll form a three-man midfield that will transform into a deep-lying tandem with Jordan Henderson when Liverpool doesn't have the ball. As a result, Emre Can and Adam Lallana lose their spots in the starting XI.

4-1-4-1: Attack, Attack!

Albeit a risky concept that would be daft to employ on a Wednesday night at the Allianz Arena, the 4-1-4-1 could be a beneficial formation at home to a Premier League minnow.

Drop Henderson, throw Lallana in a central position knowing his work rate will cover for Coutinho's unwillingness to track back, and be prepared to run the opposition's full-backs ragged as Sadio Mane and Salah stretch the backline to the benefit of Roberto Firmino. This formation makes either a star or a fool of Keita.

4-2-3-1: Enters Emre

A slight variation of the 4-3-3, the 4-2-3-1 differs in this case because a) it demands very little defensively from Coutinho and b) it requires Can - a player with better defensive instincts - to start in place of Henderson.

With Keita and Can able to both ply their trades as box-to-box midfielders of a deep-lying, defensive variety, this system requires perfect communication between the two for fear of getting caught out against the run of play.