With Liverpool hot on the heels of Mario Gotze, TheHardTackle takes a look at the possible formations manager Jurgen Klopp could use if the Reds pull off the signing of the out-of-favour Bayern Munich attacker.
Since his high-profile move to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2013, Mario Gotze’s club career has been on a downward spiral. The Germany international has gone from being a superstar at the Westfalenstadion to a bench-warmer at the Allianz Arena.
Aside from netting the winner in a World Cup final in 2014, the 23-year-old has had little to cheer about during his time in Munich. Hence it isn’t a surprise that the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and even former club Borussia Dortmund are rumoured to be after the midfielder. However, the arrival of Ousmane Dembele at Dortmund has paved the way for a Premier League move for Gotze, as a reunion with former boss Jurgen Klopp looks increasingly likely.
Reports from Merseyside yesterday claimed the German star has been lined up as a £20 million replacement for the outgoing Christian Benteke in a summer move that will see him become the Reds’ highest paid player. With James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo, Tony Barrett of the Times and Chris Bascombe of the Telegraph strengthening claims of the Gotze rumours, we look ahead to analyse how the German will be a valued addition to the Liverpool squad.
Gotze: A bargain for Liverpool at £20 million
With Christian Benteke very likely to leave in the summer following a disappointing spell with the Reds, a versatile midfielder with Bundesliga and World Cup winning pedigree in Mario Gotze for £20 million is a bargain for Liverpool. When Henrikh Mkhitaryan arrived at Borussia Dortmund in 2013, Klopp famously declared that the Armenian fitted in at the club ‘like an arse in a bucket.’ With Gotze having all the qualities and experience of the high-pressing football Klopp has brought to Merseyside, his move to Liverpool could benefit both parties just like Mkhitaryan’s did for Dortmund.
Gotze has been deployed in different positions within various formations at club and country level. Such versatility will come in handy for Liverpool, giving Klopp a number of formations to choose from. Here are three formations Klopp could use if Germany’s World Cup hero arrives at Anfield.
4-3-3 (False 9)
Gotze who was primarily deployed as a left midfielder during his time at Borussia Dortmund, and could fit into the left flank of a 4-3-3 (false nine) formation that Klopp seems to employ in games where he seeks to field a crowded midfield. It worked wonders against the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea for Klopp, where the Reds had enough numbers in the centre of the park to press higher and create as many chances going forward as possible.
Gotze could also occupy the centre-forward position in the formation over Roberto Firmino with Philippe Coutinho taking his spot in left midfield. Firmino has excelled in this role this season and Gotze would doubtless savour playing behind the Brazilian. However, Gotze has also often played as a ‘false no.9’ for Germany, throwing up the possibility of the former Dortmund man and Firmino regularly swapping positions within such a fluid formation.
The German has recent experience playing in that position for Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich, while he has also taken up the role for Joachim Low with the national side. After all, it was from this very position that the 23-year-old scored his famous World Cup clinching goal against Argentina.
4-2-3-1
Gotze could also fit into the 4-2-3-1 formation that Klopp has preferred most since his arrival at Liverpool. The former Dortmund man could sit at the centre of a three-man attacking midfield along with Coutinho and James Milner or Adam Lallana, playing behind Daniel Sturridge up front. Gotze would relish the responsibility of being the focal point of Liverpool’s attack, having served as little more than a utility man at Bayern.
It would also allow him to get back to doing what he does best, because while he has developed a keener eye for goal in Munich and bulked up significantly to cope better with the physicality of central defenders, he was a prolific assist-man during his Dortmund days. The German also claimed the No.10 role was his preferred position back in 2013, so this formation could be ideal for him and Liverpool.
4-4-2 (Diamond)
Sitting at the top of a midfield diamond, Gotze could be the fulcrum of Liverpool’s attack in a 4-4-2 formation that will see the German servicing the Reds’ front men, Sturridge and Divock Origi. Emre Can, Coutinho and Jordan Henderson will complete the midfield diamond in a formation that could take shape for the Reds upon the arrival of Gotze. The Bayern man will help add more unpredictability to a Liverpool attack likely to be based on high pressing, quick movement and constant inter-changing.
In his nine months, Klopp has made it known that he is not one to stick to a single formation and will switch systems depending on the opposition and scenario, and the German expects players to adapt quickly to such changes. Mario Gotze’s positional versatility gives Liverpool further impetus to go the distance to bring home their man as they look to build a squad worthy of mounting a title challenge next season.
