Liverpool FC face Bournemouth on Monday evening, and the Reds’ manager Brendan Rodgers has stated that he is prepared to change tactics as and when required to win games.
Liverpool FC fans have often accused manager Brendan Rodgers of failing to create an identity for the Reds, with his tactics changing constantly.
While his initial idea was to play a 4-3-3 at Anfield, he has extensively deployed the use of a 4-4-2 narrow diamond and as evident in the last season, a 3-5-2.
‘Change is the only constant’
However, explaining that while he is all about maintaining a certain core ideology, Rodgers was quoted saying in his pre-match press conference by Liverpool FC’s official website that he will continue to be pragmatic and change his approach as required to enable his side to win games. He also went on to add that it is this idea that has been key to recruitment of players at Anfield this summer.
“I think I said last time I spoke that it was about the unpredictability of our game,” he said.
“I think anyone who knows me well enough knows that I have a way of working that won’t change, I’ve an inherent belief in terms of that.
“But I’m not dogmatic in my approach, I’m very much about finding the ways to win, finding the different solutions in the game.
“If a team presses you high then at times you need to go over the top of that press or you need to go around the press, however which way to win the game.
“So what we’ve done this summer is bring in good players that can give us that variety because sometimes you may want to work that way.
“If a team’s pressing you high and you want to go in over the top of the press you might not have the type of player or profile of player that can help you do that.
“For me we’ve had a good summer in terms of bringing in players that give us all types of way to work but the core principles and ideas are fundamentally the same and in how I work, that doesn’t change.”
‘It is vital to have a good start at home’
After starting the new season with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium last weekend, Rodgers’ team will be hoping to begin their campaign at Anfield with a win.
Liverpool FC won just 10 of their 19 home games last season, an important reason they finished a lowly sixth. Brendan Rodgers will be looking to set that record straight when they host Bournemouth on Monday night.
“I think building confidence early on is important,” he said. “I think that’s key in it.
“Getting the vibrancy around the stadium again, the level of football, and obviously winning – if you can do that early on that creates the confidence and it’s something that I’m looking forward to seeing this team evolve with again this season.
“It’s so, so important for you, your home form, if you’re going to succeed and that’s the aim for this season.
“Of course you want to learn and you review [last season] but the main attribute is confidence, it’s the key facet.
“If you’ve got confidence that’ll give you success and that confidence will come from working hard and getting victories at home, it’s as simple as that.
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“Our aim and intention in every game is to be on the front foot at home, we are a team that wants to dominate and that will always be the case, particularly at home.”
It will certainly be interesting to see how Rodgers set his team up tactically against Bournemouth, having spoken about pragmatism and unpredictability. One thing is for sure, he would want the result to be the same as the Reds’ season opener against Stoke City.