Can Liverpool FC play Tiki-Taka? - Part 2

If you want to understand how Liverpool are going to play the tiki-taka, you are going to have to understand how the midfield pieces fit.

A touch tackling midfielder like Lucas is essential to tiki-taka

Check out Part 1 here, if you missed it

So, let’s look at the two midfields that two of my case studies use (this being Swansea and Barcelona).

Barcelona operate with a 4 defender system, although the way that Barcelona control the game and the quickness of Daniel Alves means that he is able to play in what is essentially a right-wing role, whilst the rest of the defence shifts to be more central and make up for the gap left on the right flank.

That makes for essentially 6 players in midfield. You have 3 central midfielders, with one capable of going wide left, and you have a right-back who can also operate as a right winger for Barcelona.

You then have the two wingers out wide, who can play either more central roles or play the more wide roles to offer more width in their play, hence stretching defences.

The theory is to keep ball for as long as possible in the middle of the park, playing those triangle passes and gaining ground along the way. Passes are played when they are clear and safe passes, ensuring that the ball is kept, and that the domination can keep going on.

Crosses lack in this system, with it believed to be perhaps even forbidden in this almost perfect philosophy of football. Instead, ground crosses/passes are made, trying to capitalize on quick nimble footwork to get to the ball first, rather than to head the ball in.

Now to look at Swansea’s system.

Swansea played with a formation reminiscent of a 4-2-3-1 system, although it can also be said to be a 4-3-3, with Sigurdsson playing at the top of the midfield trio. Sinclair and Dyer did have that tenancy to cut inside and try and get those shots off from outside the box.

Furthermore, he had dynamic midfielders in Allen and Britton to cover the ground and just play keep ball.

Ideally, there are two midfielders who really should be guaranteed starters, this being Lucas Leiva and Steven Gerrard (although Gerrard will have limited appearances due to his fitness problems as he grows older).

Lucas will be the Sergio Busquets to Rodgers’ Liverpool FC, whilst Steven Gerrard can play out right to deliver balls into Andy Carroll (if he stays) or he can play the Xavi role. On the other hand, he can play a more free role like Iniesta or Sigurdsson, and get further up the pitch.

That leaves Liverpool with a few more midfielders at their disposal. There is Charlie Adam, who is capable of spreading out play – playing those long balls out wide and splitting opposition defences – and also Jordan Henderson, who I saw as a Xavi-esque player, with less adventure. Furthermore, there is Jonjo Shelvey and Alberto Aquilani.

In my eyes, Henderson is still a better player than Shelvey. He’s more technically proficient and less rash whilst on the ball. I can’t personally draw a proper comparison between Henderson and his Italian team-mate Aquilani, with the reason being that I haven’t properly seen Aquilani play against players of the Premier League over the last 2 years.

But ideally, Henderson can be our man if Rodgers gets that fear of misplacing a pass out of him. My 3 man midfield would personally consist of Steven Gerrard, Lucas Leiva and Jordan Henderson, as much as it lacks originality – given the outcomes of this season.

They can perfect the system of tiki-taka. Especially with Brendan Rodgers at the helm.

Agree, disagree? Well just leave your thoughts on your midfield trio in the comments section below.