A look at the 4-2-3-1 for Liverpool

Sure, i could look at every team in the Premiership that ran the 4-2-3-1, but that requires a ton of effort for a Saturday morning with only two shots of Antigua as espresso. Maybe this project increases if the team switches from the old diamond to this 4-5-1 variant.

But, in order to take a look make this formation more familiar to those that follow the Premiership, I found that Liverpool ran this more than any other.

While many see this formation as defensive in nature, the numbers for Liverpool prove the otherwise. Fifteen matches they went with the 4-2-3-1, and in those scored 2.60 for and 0.93 against. In their several other formations they had a 1.71 for and 0.62 against. Clearly the formation does not dictate defensive football.

This may be because they lineup like;

Reina
Arbeloa - Carragher (c) - Agger - Fabio Aurelio
Mascherano - Xabi Alonso
Benayoun - Kuyt - Riera
Torres
That's some serious talent, but the philosophy is the same. Attack but have 6 available in defense and up to 7 that can go forward.