Liverpool news: Steve Nicol says Jurgen Klopp should not adopt a 3-4-3 formation
That is according to former Liverpool defender and pundit Steve Nicol.
The Reds’ defending has come under severe criticism this season after failing to bring in a new centre-back in the summer.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have conceded 16 goals in their opening nine games and are languishing down in ninth in the Premier League table.
Nicol’s colleagues Alejandro Moreno and Craig Burley suggested Liverpool should play with three at the back, a tactic that has been successful at Chelsea and Arsenal in the last 12 months.
But Nicol does not believe Klopp has the players to fit into that system.
I’m not so sure, if you can’t defend with four, how are you going to defend better with three?
Steve Nicol on Liverpool
“I don’t have an answer (of what to do next),” he said of Liverpool.
“I heard the boys talking yesterday about maybe going to a back three, trying something like that.
“But for me, when you play with a back three, you have to have three reliable guys.
“Your two wing-backs, you want them going forward.
Steve Nicol says outcast Luke Shaw must leave Man United
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"The one reliable guy (Joel Matip) made a huge error as well at the weekend (against Tottenham).
“I’m not so sure, if you can’t defend with four, how are you going to defend better with three?”
Chelsea won the Premier League title last season after rekindling their championship hopes when changing to three in defence.
Arsenal have adopted a similar style, albeit with mixed results.