Liverpool vs Southampton: What System Should Brendan Rodgers Employ Following Coutinho's Injury?

Option 3 - Replace Coutinho with Kolo Toure in a 5-3-2

Line up: Mignolet - Wisdom, TOURE, Skrtel, Sakho/Agger, Enrique - Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson - ASPAS, Sturridge

I think this is a very plausible option for Brendan Rodgers. With Liverpool now boasting a vast array of quality defenders, it is possible Rodgers could employ a 5-3-2 formation and utilise Liverpool's offensive full backs even more - of course, young Andre Wisdom does not really fall into this category but Enrique does and when Johnson returns this option may become available again and to greater effect. Many people will look upon this formation as a boring and defensive one, when in reality it isn't. When defending, sure, there are five at the back which sounds sturdy and seems to limit the opposition to less space in their attacking third. However, when a team using 5-3-2 has the ball, the formation becomes an offensive 3-4-3 with Henderson joining the attack and the full backs becoming make shift wingers in a temporary four man midfield. Then, once the attack is over, the formation regresses and returns to 5-3-2. Formations have become more flexible in recent years and this is a perfect example - formations are no longer rigid and subbuteo-like but evolve as the game enters different phases of play. Basically, the formation is just where each player starts from, then everything becomes fluid and interchangeable - something Rodgers deserves great credit for as Liverpool do it so well. Some fans may bemoan such a formation, especially at home to a team Liverpool expect to beat, but a closer look reveals the strengths of this formation. A separate factor in favour of this option is that Liverpool have played it before and have certainly practised it. During the frantic 2-2 draw to Everton last year, Rodgers switched Liverpool to a 5-3-2 looking formation to counter Everton's long balls and crosses into Fellaini, this means the players are probably already up to speed with this formation and regard it as a solid plan B.