{"id":624856,"date":"2025-12-10T20:34:41","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T20:34:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/624856\/"},"modified":"2025-12-10T20:34:41","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T20:34:41","slug":"why-diamond-midfield-could-suit-liverpool-no-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/624856\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Diamond Midfield Could Suit Liverpool No. 11"},"content":{"rendered":"

Liverpool\u2019s diamond midfield worked a treat against Inter Milan, and it could have unexpected benefits for Mo Salah<\/a> if Arne Slot<\/a> sticks with the system going forward.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Despite signing two strikers in the summer, the plan wasn\u2019t to play with both up front at the same time. In fact, Alexander Isak<\/a> and Hugo Ekitike<\/a> had only started together once, in Liverpool\u2019s 5-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt, before their outing at San Siro.<\/p>\n

A characteristic defining Liverpool\u2019s campaign so far has been their switch to 4-2-3-1 from last season\u2019s 4-3-3. The change has often left the Reds exposed and easy to play through, as opposition managers have themselves commented.<\/p>\n

Against Inter, however, they were anything but leaky. <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mo Salah\u2019s role off the ball<\/p>\n

\"MANCHESTER,<\/p>\n

Part of the reason for Salah being dropped was Slot\u2019s determination to stop the wave of goals being conceded. <\/p>\n

While the Reds\u2019 form is far from the pure fault of the Egyptian, playing Dominik Szoboszlai<\/a> on the right has helped solidify the team. <\/p>\n

Fielding the Hungarian on wing is unlikely to be a long-term solution, though, as Liverpool need the firepower of their attackers, chiefly Salah, across the course of a whole season.<\/p>\n

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Liverpool’s line breaks conceded this season \u2013 with Salah on vs off the pitch#LFC<\/a> #PL<\/a> <\/p>\n

? @footovision<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/vLGfkbRULf<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Andy Forrester (@AndyForrester1) December 10, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Against Leeds<\/a> and Inter \u2013 it was only realy applicable out of possession at Elland Road \u2013 Slot played the diamond in midfield which meant there were no real wingers on the pitch. <\/p>\n

Off the ball, the strikers didn\u2019t have to work back too far, instead they focused on their press at the top end of the pitch and this is something that could benefit Salah. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Though he has actually covered more distance<\/a> per 90 minutes in the Premier League<\/a> this season than last season, the No. 11 has been criticised for not being able to track back effectively. <\/p>\n

If he were to play as one of the front two, Liverpool would still be able to utilise his relentless energy but he wouldn\u2019t be forced to track runners as deep. <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Can Mo Salah play in a front two?<\/p>\n

\"ISTANBUL,<\/p>\n

Playing Salah as part of a two up front could also suit him in possession.<\/p>\n

Obviously, the 33-year-old isn\u2019t too familiar with playing through the middle, but the way Ekitike and Isak played allowed the forwards to drift wide \u2013 in fact, it was entirely necessary.<\/p>\n

Usually during attacks on Tuesday, one of the strikers would go wide to help the full-back, the only source of width, as the other held their position to provide a target in the box.<\/p>\n

Against Leeds<\/a>, Gakpo even spent so much time on the left that the formation was barely recognisable as a 4-diamond-2, as Slot described it, when off the ball.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Another attribute needed from your strikers would be for them to run in behind, something Salah should be able to do, though he has turned into more of a creator in the last two years.<\/p>\n

One of the reasons Slot hasn\u2019t frequently played Isak and Ekitike up front together is likely down to the fact that it isn\u2019t sustainable to play them in every match across a full season. <\/p>\n

If you can add Salah into the rotation, however, then it becomes more palatable as a prospect fitness-wise and it also means the Liverpool\u2019s whole game isn\u2019t relying on the Egyptian as he edges towards the end of his career. <\/p>\n

The Egyptian could also play behind a striker with Florian Wirtz<\/a> or Ekitike, making the formation a 4-1-2-2-1 on paper. This would be highly flexible in practice.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

How to make it work<\/p>\n

\"LEEDS,<\/p>\n

Liverpool have been a team reliant on their wingers for the last 10 years and Slot is unlikely to move away from that too much in the short term. <\/p>\n

However, the Reds do have the pieces to make a 4-diamond-2 work, particularly in midfield and at full-back.<\/p>\n

Key to the formation are midfielders who are energetic and comfortable taking the ball in their own half.<\/p>\n

Against Inter, it was often Curtis Jones<\/a> who dropped deep to receive from the centre-backs, and he was brave as well as accurate with his passing.<\/p>\n

The boyhood Red was top for completed passes (67\/70), line-breaking passes (14) and made three passes breaking the opposition\u2019s defensive line (Opta<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Indeed, Jones has been the most accurate midfielder in Europe\u2019s top five leagues when playing progressive passes this season, according to DataMB<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The system arguably also benefited Ryan Gravenberch<\/a>, who remained rooted to the base of the midfield in order to block passes into Inter\u2019s front two, who were often pinned against Ibrahima Konate<\/a> and Virgil van Dijk<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Gravenberch has been asked to charge forward and get beyond the ball more this season, whereas his performance improved with a simplified role at San Siro.<\/p>\n

For the formation to work, though, it requires the full-backs to play a pivotal role, with one usually staying deeper in build-up while the other pushes on. <\/p>\n

Joe Gomez<\/a> has done a fine job at right-back, but the full-backs are essential to provide width in attack with no wingers on the pitch. <\/p>\n

This is a job better suited to Conor Bradley<\/a> or Jeremie Frimpong<\/a>, and it was clearly evident that the former would suit the role when he came on for the last 20 minutes on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Adapting to the game<\/p>\n

\"MILAN,<\/p>\n

As with any system, it must be maleable and the players have to be able to think on their feet, adapting to the game situation \u2013 something we have arguably not seen enough of this season.<\/p>\n

Slot said of the Reds\u2019 win over Inter: \u201cIn the first half, we decided to keep a plus-one in the back, but then they made a few changes and it didn\u2019t feel right to still do this in the second half. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere were a few times (Inter defender) Manuel Akanji went all the way into the midfield. So we pressed them higher.\u201d<\/p>\n

This usually manifested itself in Szoboszlai pressing much higher, a job for whom there is probably no one more befitting in the Premier League<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"MILAN,<\/p>\n

In reality, are we going to see this long-term? Probably not, though it could make sense. <\/p>\n

A change of direction would be required, but Liverpool couldn\u2019t continue down the path they were on anyway. Slot acted and his decision paid off against Inter. <\/p>\n

At home, though, Anfield may require more to get behind when the team are attacking the Kop with 55,000 Reds roaring them on.<\/p>\n

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