Liverpool 4-2-3-1 Help

[Sean_Sutton]

Was wondering if anyone could help me out with my tactic. I started off well but have changed my tactic to make it more attacking. But i have found by doing this it has dried up my goals and the goals keep leaking through at the back. My full backs are constantly caught out and it is starting to annoy me. Johnson can't mark at all when it comes to crosses into the box and at corners i usually concede many goals. I feel completely at sea with the player roles for the defence.

I am sorry for all the many problems that this tactic has. This is the first time i have asked for help but find it necessary after two losses to Man City and then Sunderland at home.

I have attached my tactic and screen shots so hopefully this will provide help. I look forward to and appreciate any advice.

Cheers

 

[Vanjagl]

If you have problems with SB's you should play narrow. Also, I see your Wingers/Inside Fow are set to attack. maybe set them to support and Gerrard on attack duty ? Your defence is real slow. You should play litte deeper . Good luck

 

[Sean_Sutton]

Thanks for the advice. I shall test it out. I think the defensive line was quite a problem as last time out when i played Sunderland. I played a very high defensive line and that really gave Sunderland plenty of chances.

Do you have any advice on the full-backs. I want to get the full-backs to get up with the inside forwards, so that the full-backs offer the width in the team. By playing narrow would that allow the full-backs to get up with the inside forwards?

Also, on the centre backs, what role do you recommend they have. I used to have carragher on limited defender/stopper and agger on central defender/cover.

Any ideas will be appreciated again

 

[Vanjagl]

When you play narrow your full backs wont be caught out so easily. If you want from your fullbacks to get foward, set their instructions:
Get foward - always
Crossing - much
Mentality - attacking
Also read this mate, it can help
About your CB's.
I use CB-defend tandem but I know lot of people have great succes with one CB-cover and other CB- stopper. You'll need to have one quick CB and he need to have good tacking and anticipation, other can be slow like Carra and you can use him for stopper. Later in the game, but some CB with high header/jumping attributes, also need to have good mental and tackilng/marking attributes.

 

[Mike.]

sean try this, its set at control, but obviously switch mentality as and when you need to if possible i recommend buying eden hazard and gervinho (both from Lille) for aml and amr respectively:

 

[Mike.]

i really should do a write up on my "modern formations" tactics

 

[GodCubed]

Ooh... not sure about this tactic at all.

1. It's very, very attacking. With only one midfielder nominally defending and two of your four defenders also on an attack duty, there is a massive shortfall in defensive numbers.
2. Your defenders are on the same duty. Cover/Stopper works, as does Defend/Defend, but Cover/Cover or Stopper/Stopper kinda defeats the whole point of the role.
3. You're playing an extremely high defensive line with slow defenders. Carragher especially is about as mobile as a paraplegic plank. One mistake by your defence, and the opposition is through on goal, and your defence does not have the pace to recover.
4. Already mentioned the fullbacks, but they are extremely attacking. I only ever risk using two attacking fullbacks if I have the safety net of two defensive midfielders forming a square with my centre-backs, and you, playing a high variant of the 4-2-3-1, do not. Even worse, you only have one true defensive mid.

I would do the following things: Set one of your wingers (lets take Kuyt, as he's suited to it) to Support duty, to free up Gerrard for an attacking role. He's wasted sitting in the hole. Change the fullback on that side (Johnson) to an Automatic or Support duty. On the other side, change the winger (Maxi) to an inside forward, and leave Bale to rampage up his outside. Change your defenders to a Defend duty, and think about lowering your defensive line. I would also change your mentality from "Attacking" to "Control" - the former should only really be used if you're pushing for victory or certain of it against weak opposition. Finally, if you are still leaking goals move your two CMs back to DM. Put Poli as a deep-lying playmaker, and use Merieles or Lucas as the destroyer.

Check out the links in my sig for more detailed ideas.

 

[Sean_Sutton]

Thanks everyone for all your advice. The advice on the wingers and full-backs has really made my team more attractive to watch and im enjoying the structure my defense seems to have.

The edits to my tactic so far have made Torres seem even more dangerous then he has been. From the match stats i have attached you will see the amount of shots and chances i was able to create. Earlier in my other matches i was only creating maybe 10 shots and 1 or 2 clear-cut chances. The finishing of my team is a tad worrying with Maxi missing chance after chance. But apart from that im really pleased. The stats may say otherwise, as i should have won by more but that was a wonderful performance compared to the other performances so far this season.

Really appreciate this help. All those tweaks have really helped. Any more small bits of advice your willing to offer will really be appreciated

Cheers guys