What could be Jurgen Klopp’s ‘temporary solution’ for Chelsea?

With pre-season ending without the signing of a defensive midfielder, Jurgen Klopp has suggested a temporary solution is needed for this weekend’s opener against Chelsea.

Spot the Opposition
It’s worth taking a look at what the hosts will try to do at Stamford Bridge.

Throughout pre-season we have seen Mauricio Pochettino execute his signature philosophy: intense, pressing football and a 4-2-3-1 to play on the front foot.

But he has also shown that he has evolved in his time away from the Premier League.

We saw it straight away in the Summer Series win over Brighton. With Levi Colwill in possession, the 4-2-3-1 becomes a 3-2-5…

…with left winger Ian Maatsen returning to midfield to create a boxing midfield. This gives Ben Chilwell (21) the freedom to move forward.

Colwill finds Chilwell with one of his great passes and the full-back can go wide…

…but his cross comes too soon.

Still, it shows the threat Chelsea pose on the left.

Given Liverpool’s right side have been unprotected throughout pre-season, they are their worst opponents imaginable. Or maybe for the better, because that means Liverpool have no choice but to find a solution immediately.

3-box-3
After talking about a move in the media, Klopp might surprise us all and stick to the 3-box-3 form.

Alexis Mac Allister performed well in No. 6 against Darmstadt, providing stability alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold, while Cody Gakp’s secure connection on the right worked well with the creativity of Dominik Szoboszlai on the left.

It’s a balanced quartet that allows the rear and front three to do their job.

So possessed. Because despite the compactness of the module it allows the team to counter-press well, as Klopp admitted: “We can’t block every diagonal ball”.

If the press is beaten, the rearguard struggles to cope with the trailing runners.

The likes of Nicolas Jackson and Mykhailo Mudryk could wreak havoc in this scenario.

4-3-3
Another possibility is yesterday’s traditional 4-3-3. With Mac Allister as the only number 6, Trent and Andy Robertson once again provide breadth.

Gakpo drops between the lines, allowing Harvey Elliott to recreate the flexible triangle on the right with Trent and Mohamed Salah. The obvious issue here is how isolated Mac Allister is in a transition that even specialist defensive midfielder Fabinho struggled with last season.

Mac Allister could easily be surpassed, especially with Szoboszlai a more adventurous midfielder than predecessors Gini Wijnaldum and Thiago.

Space behind the full-backs is then freely available, forcing defenders to shift and give up space in the center for easy cuts.

4-2-3-1
As he did against Darmstadt, Klopp managed to pull off four of his fantastic five with a 4-2-3-1 formation. Using Jones and Mac Allister as double pivots would allow Liverpool to start Gakpo as 10, free to identify themselves and enter the available space at the end of each attack. However, he relied on Jones to recover from injury in time to keep out a Chelsea side whose true level has yet to be revealed.

4-2-3-1 distorted
A more conservative approach in more ways than one. Firstly, by keeping Jones safe on the bench, Klopp can use a Trent-Mac Allister partnership who have already played together in pre-season.

But Joe Gomez starting at right-back also allowed Robertson to push forward in possession, with a three-man back behind him.

If Salah single-handedly holds the width down the right, he is likely to whitewash the first opening game of his Liverpool career. But the upside is a stronger right flank that can quell Chelsea’s dangerous left center – and allow Liverpool to unleash theirs.

3-4-1-2
Whether it’s Trent, Mac Allister or Jones, Klopp insisted there was ‘no chance’ anyone could defend the midfield on their own.

So if one midfielder can’t do that, how about three?

Now that the team are more comfortable with a back three, the full-backs could be used as full-backs, while a midfield trio keeps the center of the field compact.

Gakpo is once again claiming some freedom behind the forwards, while last year’s experience with a diamond suggests Darwin Nunez could form a great partnership with Mo Salah. Similar to Chelsea’s formation that won the Champions League in 2021, the 3-4-1-2 formation would likely limit the number of chances. But Liverpool themselves should be cynical in front of goal.

The question is whether the team can adapt to such a different tactical and philosophical change in such a short time before the game begins.

And that question is at the heart of all these possibilities. The season is about to start and Liverpool are still looking for what they are. By Sunday, they must have reunited.