By Jimmy Johnson

Sunday's victory away to West Ham has helped to ease the pressure on Arne Slot’s after a disastrous run of games. 

However, what that highlighted was that Liverpool’s 4-2-3-1 setup can be fragile. Players have looked increasingly lost within the system, leading to huge defensive gaps and a lack of cohesion going forward.

Let's look at three different formations that Slot could use to switch things up a bit.

3-4-3

There are two major defensive reasons why this formation could work. Firstly, Liverpool would utilise a back three, giving Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate the support they desperately need. Secondly, it would give greater accommodation to Jeremie Frimpong by using a system that supports his natural role. 

It does pose a question - who joins Van Dijk and Konate in the back three? Joe Gomez is the obvious choice, but his spotty injury record means he isn’t always available. Wataru Endo is another option, but he isn’t a natural centre-back and also isn’t getting any younger at the age of 32. 

Instead, Conor Bradley could suit for this position. He is very determined and aggressive defensively and deceptively tall at 6ft 1. While not the most aerially dominant, having won just 45.9% of his aerial duels this season, Van Dijk and Konate will be able to cover for him. 

4-4-2

While a flat, traditional 4-4-2 would be too easy for opposition teams to play around, a revival of the 4-4-2 diamond formation could work. Mohamed Salah would likely have to function as one of the two forwards, however, as he does not have the defensive acumen or the work rate to play on the right side of the diamond.

As such, once again, one of Isak or Ekitike will be forced to miss out if Slot opts to play this formation. Nevertheless, he will be able to field a number ten and will also keep his preferred flat back four, rather than experimenting with a backline he does not fully understand. 

Additionally, it would also allow Liverpool to flood the midfield and control the space in the middle of the park. The biggest issue with this formation is the level of cohesive knowledge required throughout the squad in order to use it effectively. 

3-4-1-2

Like with the 4-4-2 diamond, deploying a 3-4-1-2 formation will allow Slot to field two forwards. However, it also leaves Salah in the lurch - do you play Isak and Ekitike together, or do you drop one of them to accommodate the Egyptian international?

Either way, in playing a back three with wingbacks, Frimpong will be accommodated and the centre-back pairing will benefit from a third player. On top of this, Liverpool would not need to leave out a central midfielder, unlike in the 3-4-3 setup. 

Liverpool’s main issue this season, defensively, has been from set-pieces. They have conceded nine goals from set plays this season - while there is no way a formation can completely ameliorate this problem, having more defensive-minded players in the team seems like a good solution.