Why don't we start by looking at Klopp's tactics and marvel at the magnificence qualities this Liverpool team bring to being title contenders.
The Basic 4-3-3...? No, Liverpool break the formation boundaries, this is why Liverpool often pick up more second balls and make the high press work so well.
I think collectively this could be defined as Liverpool's best team, mainly in relation to the quality, work-rate and average performances but even more importantly stability and diversity between attack and defence.
The "4-3-3" would conventionally be shown as the above image but in reality the purpose of the "4-3-3" and use between the top teams in the world work nothing like this. Liverpool's excel in three major departments when H2H versus other teams of equal of better quality like Manchester City, PSG etc. These three departments work collectively as does the team from front to back, it starts with the PRESS, then WINNING SECOND BALLS and lastly COUNTER ATTACKS.
Executing or "copying" this Liverpool team is immensely difficult to execute (hence why the big teams struggle when H2H) because it requires every player to be at peak fitness, with pace, willing to give 100% and all understand every role, not the "4-3-3" but more importantly the rotation of 2-3-2-3 and 4-2-3-1 these formations suffocate the opposition and enable Liverpool to attack with less vulnerabilities.
As you can see above the almost 4-2-3-1 cuts out pockets, this style is what enables Liverpool (and also Manchester city do this) to pick up the majority of second balls, upon lob passes, throw in's etc. This is basic strategy employed by many of the top clubs across Europe, Liverpool are set apart by actually using 2 and sometimes 3 other formations (which I will get to soon) in the same game! The basic formation above is waiting for the counter and to collect loose balls.
2-3-2-3 Press
Liverpool's press when teams play out from the back, This is how the press starts with Firmino, Mane and Salah pressuring defenders to lose the ball and the midfield formation is collectively arranged for all areas to pick up the second ball. If this begins to fail and they opposition plays through or someone makes a mistake as the ball develops past the front 3 Liverpool revert back into the 4-2-3-1 which is what require excess sprinting. This collective work-rate is often what makes opposition look so poor on the ball against Liverpool, like I said before they suffocate you collectively, you can't pass out from the back, long balls are covered for second balls of AVG drop points from headers.
There is also another version of the press Liverpool only use upon struggling against world class opposition.
Collective double-press
Almost looking like a double arrow, every player work in a pair on the ball press and crowd the are around it. Only Van Dijk and Gomez stay in a basic line and position against the counter, this is a risky push but has worked very well for Liverpool. Whats most impressive is the transition from this double press to 2-3-2-3 and then 4-2-3-1 is seamless and rarely happens because of the manner of the obvious pace, press and understanding between each role as a collective purpose.
Right now with this style, these players and the work-rate this team should win a trophy and closely challenge for several of the best.
Liverpool's Biggest Weakness
When 1 of the front 3 Mane, Salah or Firmino is out the purpose of this successful press has gone. Which also means the formations are partially ineffective and the flow between each stage shown doesn't work. I actually believe Klopp saw this a long time ago and tried to amend it with Nabi Keita and Shaqiri so that front 3 could still effectively press and work back through each stage, however we haven't yet seen either manage to do this as a second player.
Ironically we have seen proof of this theory already last year in several cases, biggest of all in the Champion League Final where Liverpool were dominating Real Madrid then Salah went off injured and nothing looked the same for the remaining 70% of the game.
The main message to take from this article is Liverpool's formations are the best in the World right now, almost the best rounded team that works together so why didn't they win anything last year? 1 player was missing, one that could fill in for Mane, Firmino or Salah when one is out, not even scoring as high but work as that collective press with pace. Right now Shaqiri is the closest thing but has a habit of sitting in the midfield not press enough. (This can also be seen after Liverpool's loss to Chelsea in the League cup) Klopp post-match is telling Shaqiri he didn't press the two areas and he' points directly.
There is always the chance that Mane, Firmino and Salah will stay fit but maintaining the requirement's of the press throughout the Premier league and Champions League is hard to avoid an strains. Sturridge is close to retirement from Liverpool and cannot and will not press in the manner that the main 3 stars do. Ideally Liverpool need to adapt Shaqiri or buy another fast player that could play in this deep system.
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