Liverpool have announced the arrival of Uruguayan striker, Darwin Done Deal: How Does Darwin Nunez Fit Into Klopp Plans?, from Benfica. The fee for the new arrival is said to be an initial fee of £64m (€75m) plus £21m (€25m) in add-ons said to take the total deal to £85m (€100m). He has signed a six-year deal and will wear the #27 jersey.
Manchester United were linked and the more interested party ahead of the transfer window opening. Move on a few days or a couple of weeks with news of Sadio Mane wanting to leave Anfield and it was Liverpool who left nothing to chance and acted swiftly in snatching one of South America’s brightest talents.
After hearing that world-class winger Sadio Mane wants to leave Anfield during the summer, the decision to bring in a Mane replacement needed to be made. After wondering if Liverpool will even be active for a Mane stand-in, they have now announced a record-breaking deal and are well off the mark with two summer additions.
We’ve got some ñews that we think you might like… 🇺🇾#DarwinDay pic.twitter.com/C70mBnzu4c
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 14, 2022
Not waiting for Bayern Munich to improve their offer and meet somewhere close to their demands for the African, the Reds’ intentions were clear: replace, regardless if a sale has gone through yet.
They see Darwin as the perfect Klopp player for now and the future. But how exactly will he fit into the team with Liverpool fully loaded at the top end of the pitch? Will Jurgen Klopp totally abandon the traditional 4-3-3? Will he finally use a lone striker to lead the line? What is his best starting XI?
Klopp’s possible formations with Darwin Nunez added to the line-up. Possibly the Best XI for a 4-3-2-1 formation
The first chosen formation is an all-new way for Klopp to line up and the best possible starting XI Jurgen Klopp can put out. This formation will see no player play out of position and Liverpool finally operate with a lone striker up front.
Since Roberto Firmino was introduced to the false 9 role by Klopp back in 2015, the Reds have used their wingers as makeshift strikes, even preferring to rather use out-and-out strikers such as Diogo Jota and the departed Divock Origi on either flank of the pitch.
With that being said, Klopp will prefer to use Darwin Nunez’s strength and physical presence in leading the line. With the Reds’ gameplay mostly overloading the box with crosses, Nunes is the best forward to get on the end of a Trent or Robertson cross. It worked excellently with Jota last season; one can only imagine how well it should work with Alexandre-Arnold and Robbo.
Liverpool Formation With Nunez Furthest Forward: 4-3-2-1
Some answers for the questions you may have from the given lineup as this is what I believe the Reds’ best XI could be with Nunez involved.
Why is Naby Keita in Liverpool’s best XI?
When Keita played in behind Time Werner at RB Leipzig, the two formed a formidable partnership; something similar to that of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, but not as special as the two Liverpool greats, obviously.
You can expect Keita to have more of a playmaker role with a proper number 9 at the club now. I also do believe the best is yet to come from the Guinean midfielder.
No Joel Matip: Trust me it hurts
Not sure if Joel Matip will retain his spot as the first-choice centre-back and it’s not like he doesn’t deserve it. However, one sees Klopp using the Frenchman, Ibrahima Konate, more regularly than he did last season.
Crosses into the box should be a cheat with this formation and because of Liverpool’s two fullbacks and their new striker. In back-to-back seasons the Reds have topped the Premier League with the most completed crosses: 897 completed crosses in 2021/22, and 862 completed crosses in 2020/21.
Liverpool 4-2-3-1 Formation: Second Best Starting Xi
These two lineups are just a couple of examples of how Klopp can set up with a 4-2-3-1 formation, using his squad to full effect as he did last season but this time while tweaking the system to suit his players who are on the pitch.
The old faithful with Darwin Nunez leading the line or on the left flank.
Liverpool’s trialled and tested the 4-3-3 formation. The benefit of using this formation is that: Nunez doesn’t have to be the furthest forward with him able to operate on the left wing as well.
So goes for all the other attackers in the squad who are able to interchange during the 90 minutes as they did last season so vividly.
Liverpool’s Old but Gold 4-3-3 Formation
Changes Here With the 4-3-3 Formation
The midfield engine will have to be reinstated with Trent and Robbo the ones bombing furthest forward with the attacking line. We’ve also seen it countless times last season where Trent drifted into the middle of the park and acted as a quarterback.
It will be the usual: Fabinho, Henderson or Thiago cleaning up in front of the defence, either of them also recycling play, and Trent picking the perfect pass forward. If not, Thiago acts as the other playmaker in the centre of the park while Henderson and Fabinho chase the opposition down for the ball.
Another Option for the 4-3-3 Formation
Quite frankly, the possibilities are endless and only time will tell while playing under Jurgen Klopp’s guidance, what is his best role on the pitch in a Liverpool shirt. What he did to the Reds in the second leg quarter-final of the Champions League gave us an indication of what he is capable of when running down the wing.
A fun future formation with the youth at the club…
If one hasn’t noticed, Liverpool have already begun their rebuild for the short and long-term future. The signing of Fabio Carvalho from Fulham further confirms this.
With the arrival of Calvin Ramsay close, Darwin Nunez announced, and Harvey Elliott already showcasing his maturity at the highest level, Liverpool are only a few signings away from having a young side ready to compete for years to come.
Liverpool’s Young Xi: 4-2-3-1 Formation
Yes, I snuck Trent Alexandre-Arnold in as a central midfielder, but it is to accommodate the potential new right-back, Calvin Ramsay. The image above does confirm they are not far from completing their future formation.
Jurgen Klopp has really built something special at the club and as long as he is plying his trade at Anfield, the Reds will continue to build a squad that can fight for top honours for an uncountable number of years.