Liverpool are reportedly interested in the services of RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner. The German international has been ripping Bundesliga apart since joining Leipzig from Stuttgart. He has 88 goals and 39 assists for Leipzig in 150 appearances. This season he has 21 goals and 7 assists from as many games.
Werner has already stated that he believes Liverpool are the best team in the world.
“Jurgen Klopp is the best coach in the world,” Timo told Sky Germany.
“There is a lot to suggest that my style of play would suit there [Liverpool].”
Werner could leave Leipzig for Liverpool if the Reds decided to pay for his release clause in the upcoming transfer window. But with world-class forwards already at their disposal, how will Liverpool accommodate him in the starting line up? Let's check out.
As a striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation:
Werner is not the typical number 9 Klopp has deployed in his lineup throughout his career. Klopp has played Fimino as a striker in a 4-3-3 at times but Firmino likes to drop deep to help out the team. Bobby also tries to create chances. Werner is more like an out and out striker. He likes to score a lot of goals. In 4-2-3-1 formation, Klopp can play Werner and Firmino both. Firmino will play as a 10 behind Werner. Firmino has the experience of playing as a 10 during his stay at Hoffenheim, so adapting to the new role won't be a big issue for the Brazilian. This formation would also need Klopp to switch from a single pivot formation (Fabinho or Henderson as the pivot) to a double pivot system. This would allow Klopp to start both Fabinho and Henderson as pivots with the Brazilian have a deeper role than the Reds captain. However, Liverpool has some good midfielders at their disposal, so they will find it hard to get into the starting lineup. Players like Wijnaldum, Keita, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain would see opportunities hard to come by. This formation can easily be tweaked in the game to 4-2-1-3 as Salah and Mane would start pushing on the wings. This is how Liverpool would look like with Werner as an out and out number 9 in a 4-2-3-1 formation:
Alisson
Trent Arnold Joe Gomez Van Dijk Robertson
Fabinho Henderson
Salah Firmino Mane
Werner
As a striker in a 4-3-3 formation:
If one of Bobby or Werner misses out, Klopp can deploy his usual 4-3-3 with Mane and Salah on the wings. Bobby drops deep and that creates space for Mane and Salah to make runs down the channels. But with Werner as number 9 and Mane & Salah on the wings, Klopp will have to tweak his tactics a bit. Werner and Firmino can be rotated and played with this formation. The midfield will be usual with Fabinho as the holding midfielder and Henderson & Wijnaldum alongside the Brazilian. Werner also has the experience of playing on the left-wing and Klopp can use him on the left-wing too if he wants to start both Werner & Bobby. The German boss wouldn't just change the system completely for one player, a system on which he has worked throughout his tenure. So there's a high possibility of Klopp sticking with his usual 4-3-3 formation. This is how Liverpool would look like with Werner as the striker in a 4-3-3 formation:
Alisson
Trent Arnold Joe Gomez Van Dijk Robertson
Wijnaldum Fabinho Henderson
Salah Werner/Firmino Mane
