Brendan Rodgers’ 3-4-3 formation was revealed not with a bang, but with a 1-0 whimper defeat to Newcastle last November. Although the loss laid the tactical foundation for Liverpool’s recent undefeated league run that currently stretches some 14 matches, the side had to first bottom out. Sitting six points from relegation the same month, Rodgers admitted he wouldn’t have been surprised if he were fired.   

For all his colloquialisms and theories on possession, Rodgers’ midseason adjustments are grounded in the pragmatism of keeping his job. It was the third time in three seasons he changed the team’s approach after early season struggles, reshuffling the side to emphasize his eye for movement and counterattacking. Last season was letting Steven Gerrard quarterback the speedy playmakers. This latest breakthrough was a way to get the side’s most technical players on the field at the expense of a traditional formation or traditional strikers.

Liverpool’s early season struggles confirmed supporters’ worst fears: that Luis Suárez’s superhuman ability masked both attacking and defensive deficiencies. The two forwards bought to replace Suarez were puzzling in hindsight. Sure, no one player replaces Suarez’s 40 goals. But second most important to Liverpool’s forward line last season was movement and flexibility.

Rickie Lambert is a target forward, and Rodgers still has yet to unlock Mario Balotelli’s combination of power and footwork. Regardless of their individual abilities, they neutered the side’s biggest strength from last season. Suarez, Raheem Sterling, and Daniel Sturridge tore defenses with their movement as much as step-overs.

The other summer signing, center back Dejan Lovren, failed to solidify the defense. With reinforcements struggling, Rodgers was forced to look internally to fill the pieces. Taken this way, the formation has rejuvenated or reinvented Liverpool players similar to Gerrard last season.

Center back Martin Skrtel was always a useful piece but has become irreplaceable as the spiritual leader of the three man backline. Left off the bench earlier this season, Mamadou Sakho’s combination of defending and ability to bring the ball out of defense is instrumental in keeping incisive possession. Alongside Emre Can, the three have played six matches and won five

The story goes on: Joe Allen label as the “the Welsh Xavi” hung over his head until this recent run, replacing Steven Gerrard and Lucas in the holding role responsible for marking opposition attackers while hitting diagonal passes freeing wingers. Jordan Henderson is scoring goals in big matches while growing into his role as captain. And this is without mentioning Steven Gerrard’s absence.

And just like that, the side reverted to last season’s form. All it took was a change in formation, a new backline, a new midfield duo, putting a 20 year old at striker, and benching the most storied player in club history.

Onward to next season, then.

Another Way to Possession

What is the perfect team?

If Rodgers’ breakthrough came from the day-to-day desire to keep his job, Pep Guardiola only explores the largest questions.

Guardiola was brought back to mortality with a 5-0 aggregate loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League last season. In the humiliating 4-0 defeat in the second leg, his usual traits of a dominant midfield were nowhere to be seen. But more than that, it felt as if Real Madrid were playing the football of the future, featuring waves of power and track star speed. Guardiola’s implementation of a 3-4-3 at Bayern this season is his chance to re-grasp a handle on the future of the sport.

Guardiola’s future, of course, is built on manipulating possession in any way. Bayern Munich features every type of center midfielders. There’s center midfielders who pass (Sebastian Rode and Xabi Alonso), center midfielders who play every role (Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger), wing backs who play as center midfielders (David Alaba and Rafinha) and a center midfielder who can play at center back (Javi Martinez). If there was ever to be a position-less soccer future, Guardiola would surely lead the way.

As Ryan Cowper notes, the biggest weakness of the 3-4-3 formation (defending width) is neutralized by maintaining possession. As a result, this Bayern side doesn’t hold possession for possession sake. Rather, possession is essential in holding the shape together – a perfect Guardiola conundrum.

And murmurs of the boring-ness of possession or winning a league too early have quieted this season. Guardiola teams are boring in the same way that “Tree of Life” was boring. A side that averages 62% possession while scoring 20 goals in eight Champions Leagues matches is about an overall mood over specific, glorious moments.  

The Future of Shape to Come

Formations are only a means to a sporting ends regardless of whether those ends are grounded in getting three points every weekend or defining a legacy. Formations also  elevate or stifle the qualities of players in an ideological zero sum game. Getting the best out of Sterling leaves no place for Balotelli.

Rodgers must learn from the mistakes of last summer’s transfer window heading into next season. A keeper more adept at building possession from the back could elevate the side again (we see how effective this can with former Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina at Bayern). There will be better striker options than Balotelli, Lambert, and Fabio Borini. The scouting verdict lesson is in: focus on players with pace and movement.

But for a moment, you can have it all - if you tinker long enough. Rodgers regained his versatile, pacey attack while shoring up the defense at the same time. His future is safe for another season. Mission accomplished.

As for Guardiola, there will be a point in this Champions League season where Bayern need to overturn a score to move on. It may be against PSG, or Barcelona, or even this next round against Porto. This time around, he’ll have his midfield. This time around, he won’t lose his nerve