The Italian Job

by Dave McDowell | 20/06/2020

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Man for man, none of our team would replace his equivalent in Liverpool's team.

I would expect that contention is passed with full agreement.

Faced with such a challengeâ€¦ what to do?

In the last derby, Klopp frustratingly outwitted Carlo Ancelotti in the FA Cup but it was “early doors” and he was still coming to terms with the squad he had inherited. This time, even given our injuries, I am looking for a tactically savvy display from “El Maestro”.

Even before Carlo's arrival, I was a proponent of 4-4-2, mainly based on our history of “burning” strikers due to the expectations that they plough a furrow on their own, get little support, and never benefit from a partner to exploit our opposition weaknesses.

My hope tomorrow is Carlo serves us a tactical masterclass in good old fashioned Italian “shut-up shop football” — take a point or snatch a 1-0 win.

Even given my 4-4-2 propensity, I would change it tomorrow and play 4-1-4-1. We simply do not have the quality of player to play 4-4-2 against the top 6. The pace and flexibility these teams possess clearly highlights our limitations and we simply get exposed, see Chelsea for the prime example.

Play deep, rigidity in shape, soak up and frustrate and hope for a set-piece opportunity from Sigurdsson. A draw should give us the confidence for the remaining upcoming matches because we need 6 points to be safe. My fear is a kicking will decimate confidence and lead to a downward spiral.

My team would be: Pickford, Digne, Holgate, Keane, Coleman, Richarlison, Davies, Sigurdsson, Gomes, Sidibé, Calvert-Lewin.

Andre Gomes sitting as defensive cover as he's clearly our most gifted midfielder for retaining possession, leaving Davies and Sigurdsson in centre mid.

I don't want pretty, we can't do pretty. I do want frustration, any organised team can frustrate, I will take 0-0 now.

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