Jurgen Klopp's career can be defined by cycles of roughly seven years.
Developing his counter-pressing philosophy from Arrigo Sacchi's great Milan side of the eighties and his own former coach, Wolfgang Frank, the German applied that to the 4-2-3-1 formation at Mainz and then Dortmund, before coming to England and transitioning what was by then known as his heavy metal style towards the 4-3-3 more commonly associated great rival Pep Guardiola and his predecessor, Johan Cruyff.
Klopp's Liverpool team has lined up in the 4-3-3 most often since his arrival in 2015, and it was only in 2022 when cracks started to show. The Reds' use of a high-line to ensure they could press high up the pitch would mean that their midfield would need to work hard to ensure there was pressure on the ball, but a lack of midfield runners meant deep-lying opposition were able to attack the back four unlike ever before, and the Reds title challenge was doomed from the moment Wilfried Zaha silenced the Anfield crowd on match week two last August.
As Liverpool continued to struggled, Klopp would drastically alter his way of thinking for the first time since moving to the Premier League.
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Unexpectedly, and in perhaps one of the biggest games of the season at Anfield against Arsenal, observers began to notice Trent Alexander-Arnold drifting ever-so-slightly towards the centre of the field, leaving a back three behind him when in possession. And it was a tactic that ultimately paid off, as the 3-2-2-3 provided the foundation to go 11 matches unbeaten until the end of an otherwise disappointing season.
And with the season coming to an end, it left questions unanswered of what Klopp will opt to do when his men go in hunt of their lost Champions League place - or maybe even one better, the title.
While official confirmation won't be known until play starts at Stamford Bridge in the opening game of the season, there have been pointers hidden in plain sight.
First of all, Alexander-Arnold's stint at right centre mid for England prove his talents would now be arguably wasted anywhere else on the pitch. Secondly, the profiles of signings Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai are major hints towards perseverance of the 3-2-2-3.
The technically-gifted duo could form a partnership that slots in behind the attack, and while both have proven their defensive capabilities, their primary initiative will be to maintain Klopp's gegenpress, then release the ball to players in more advanced positions or score from midfield - a quality Klopp's Liverpool teams have severely lacked.
In Szoboszlai's case, it is a near perfect mimic of his role at RB Leipzig, where he spent 77 percent of 2022/23 operating as a wide right attacking midfielder fed by two deep-lying playmakers. As Liverpool do not field the same formation the Hungarian would have to adapt, coming slightly in-field as heir to Jordan Henderson's role that alternates frequently with Mohamed Salah on the right flank.
With an average of 10.8km run per match whilst also boasting the title of 11th-most sprints-per-90 minutes played (31.7) in the Bundesliga last year, partnered with the fact he has missed only one game through injury since the start of the 2021/22 season, Liverpool's new no.8 can be the ultimate pressing machine that Klopp's side lacked last term.
Mac Allister, meanwhile, can operate on the left hand side of the midfield, taking up the role that Curtis Jones enjoyed success in during that 11-match unbeaten run.
So, with the opposition midfield occupied, Alexander-Arnold would then be allowed to complete his duties unencumbered, and his midfield partner can ensure that Liverpool's defence is adequately protected.
Who that partner is remains to be seen, with Liverpool still expected to keep a keen eye on available midfield talent.
Based off current playing staff, it would admittedly likely be Fabinho in that role. He was present for the most part of Liverpool's unbeaten run and came closer to finding his old form as a result. However, new suggestions of Southampton's Romeo Lavia being in direct talks and negotiations for OCG Nice's Khephren Thuram hastening make it hard to not consider either is a primary option, or at least a longer-term heir to the Brazilian.
This would then leave youngsters Jones, regarded as the surprise gift of last season's tactical alterations, Harvey Elliott and Stefan Bajcetic have to fit into the equation somewhere. They've proved they are capable and it would be unfair of Klopp to cast them aside, meaning there is a massive task to find them game time, though the Europa League should provide ample gametime to ensure everyone gets minutes.
That leaves Klopp with the conundrums of Thiago and Henderson. Both are adaptable, both can play deeper or further forward, but both have suffered with injury problems in recent seasons and, with Thiago out of contract next summer, aren't fully in Liverpool's future thinking.
Both can have roles to play, but the evolution of Liverpool's midfield and formation is going to be interesting when the season kicks off in August.
