Mane, Shaq and Origi – the front 3 that put 4 past Barca at Anfield. Didn't start a game together since – until last night, when they put 5 past Everton (with Wijnaldum's help, once again). Is there a case to be made that the "Barca-killer front 3" is perhaps just as good as our main one?
In our regular front 3, Sadio does his thing, Salah provides goal-poaching, speed and penetration and Bobby links the two of them together, while also popping up with occasional goals. In the OSM front 3, Origi is kind of playing the Salah role, only from the middle, while Shaq is recreating the creativity and link-up play of Bobby from the wing. It's just as balanced, but with slightly different accents and Sadio is key to both of the trios functioning as they should.
One thing I just noticed as I'm re-watching the derby, is that we're actually NOT playing with a front 3 in this game. In the attacking phase it's a 4-2-2-2 with Sadio and Origi as a duo up front; Lallana and Shaqiri as dual playmakers looking for space between Everton's lines and Gini and Milner manning the midfield. I actually meant to write a post suggesting exactly this formation for this game, as I thought it would work to counter Everton's 3 at the back – only thing I wasn't sure was which 2 players would be up front (and I thought Firmino must be one of the playmakers).
In our regular front 3, Sadio does his thing, Salah provides goal-poaching, speed and penetration and Bobby links the two of them together, while also popping up with occasional goals. In the OSM front 3, Origi is kind of playing the Salah role, only from the middle, while Shaq is recreating the creativity and link-up play of Bobby from the wing. It's just as balanced, but with slightly different accents and Sadio is key to both of the trios functioning as they should.
One thing I just noticed as I'm re-watching the derby, is that we're actually NOT playing with a front 3 in this game. In the attacking phase it's a 4-2-2-2 with Sadio and Origi as a duo up front; Lallana and Shaqiri as dual playmakers looking for space between Everton's lines and Gini and Milner manning the midfield. I actually meant to write a post suggesting exactly this formation for this game, as I thought it would work to counter Everton's 3 at the back – only thing I wasn't sure was which 2 players would be up front (and I thought Firmino must be one of the playmakers).
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