Dominic Soboslai, Mason Mount and Kai Havertz could be part of the midfield's new look. New transfers from Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool: they have invested heavily in top midfielders, young midfielders and most interestingly, more attacking midfielders.
Granit Xhaka, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho are gone , and Fred and Scott McTominay could follow. Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Soboslai and Mason Mount took the stage.
This raises the possibility that each of Manchester City's potential usurpers could line up with two strikers in their midfield threes, which, ironically, reflects the influence of Pep Guardiola and City on their rivals.
This one the bold approach carries risks for Mikel Arteta, Erik ten Hag and Jurgen Klopp, and speaks to the changing role of midfielders in the modern game.
Five Plus Five changes the responsibilities of midfielders
When Guardiola joined City in 2016 and put David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne in the same midfield three, it was seen as a radical and potentially reckless idea. Silva and De Bruyne were players who were conventionally referred to as «tens», they acted behind the striker or allowed drifting from the flank with two strong central midfielders behind them. Under Guardiola, they were pushed high into the left and right half-space (the area of the field that is not quite the center and not quite the flank), in support of the three strikers to make up the front five.
Seven years later, it's rare to see one of the best teams in the Premier League without seeing something close to that positional structure. The 2-3-5 or 3-2-5 version is the standard coaching formula of modern football, although how these slots are filled can vary. Five Defenders help set up the game and stop counter-attacks, while Five Defenders overloads the opponent's four defenders to deal maximum damage.
As a result, some players, whom we call midfielders for convenience, actually play not in midfield at all, but as forwards. It could very well refer to Havertz, Mount, Soboslay or Mack Allister throughout the season. One or two midfielders left to hold the defense in the «back five» play a special defensive role. A midfielder who does all of this, in both free throws and everywhere in between, faces getting his wings clipped.
One way to illustrate this trend is through ball advancement statistics. We think of midfielders getting the ball from their defenders and joining the attack, but that responsibility often lies elsewhere. Instead, midfielders clear space in midfield and trust their defenders to find them.
0308 Offensive constructions
A prime example is Arsenal, where three defenders and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale are among the top five players in assists in the final third last season. Thomas Partey was the only midfielder to finish in the top five. Xhaka and Martin Odegaard did not complete as many passes into the final third for one simple reason: they were already standing there.
Liverpool had a more mixed approach with Fabinho and Henderson, but they relied heavily on Virgil Van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold to get access to their strikers. Manchester United's midfielders did play more actively at this stage, perhaps reflecting a deeper starting position or distrust of their rear distribution.
Arsenal's search for more variety
Without downplaying the importance of signing Rice, the attributes he offers Arsenal as a replacement or accompaniment to Partey are clear. More controversial is Arteta's plan to replace Jaka Havertz.
The replacement of a hardy, belligerent midfielder with an eccentric second striker was understandably a bewilderment. However, Xhaka last season was very different from the one Arsenal signed in 2016. Xhaka had fewer touches and passes in 90 minutes than in any of his Premier League campaigns. The Swiss has been running into the box for longer.
That will cheer up Havertz, who made more shots without the ball into the box last season than any Premier League player who wasn't called Erling Haaland. When Arsenal are on the defensive, Havertz will likely line up alongside Gabriel Jesus in a 4-4-2 formation. So, although he will need to give himself the opportunity to receive passes, he will be away from the hustle and bustle of the center circle for most of the game.
The signing of Yourrien Timber means Arsenal have the option to switch their right-back, something they could only do with Oleksandr Zinchenko on the left last season. Timber's fit will push Rice away from the centre, which he prefers, and Arsenal's centre-backs and left-backs will make up their «back five». In the example below, Gabriel plays left back alongside William Saliba and Ben White. Alternatively, White could be out of the game, with Jakub Kivior or Takehiro Tomiyasu playing at left back. With Zinchenko's return, the system could flip from right to left, or Timber could just play on the left himself.
0308 A complete overhaul of Arsenal's attacking structure at Liverpool
Liverpool's engine room has been demanding new intensity for over a year now, but the rate of change this summer is still astounding. Henderson and Fabinho are gone, Soboslai and Mac Allister are left and Liverpool want to add a more defensive midfielder to complete the transformation. Southampton's Romeo Lavia received several bids.
This changing of the guard was accompanied by an interesting correction by Klopp, switching to Guardiola-style 3-2-5 with Alexander-Arnold in midfield. This system keeps five players in place to defend against counter-attacks that have plagued Liverpool for much of last season. When Alexander-Arnold wanders, Ibrihima Konate can block the right channel.
The old Liverpool approach has been turned on its head. Whereas Klopp's team used to create a front five of Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson who overlapped their front three and pushed them back, now Soboslai and Mac Allister will join the strikers playing between them. Of the two, Mac Allister is the most likely to drop and help in the earlier stages of the game. This is a more technical midfield, designed not to cover full-backs, but to receive the ball in front, crowded areas.
0308 Liverpool attacking structure
One player who is being asked to curb his natural instincts is Robertson, who will act as a left centre-back to balance Alexander-Arnold's inversion from the other flank. With Luis Diaz or Darvin Nunez holding wide on the left, Robertson will have less room to rush forward and his passes will also be tested. This is unnatural and perhaps explains Liverpool's fruitless interest in Levi Colville. Klopp could also use another defensive midfield option, hence the pursuit of Lavia.
Manchester United's quality increase
Much to the dismay of their fans, United's summer has gone at a slower pace, but they still would like to sign a second midfielder in addition to Mount. Fiorentina's Sofjan Amrabat was linked to add quality competition to Casemiro at the heart of Erik ten Hag's midfield.
Just like Arsenal and Liverpool, United could well line up with two forward midfielders Mount and Fernandez pushed forward. to make up their top five. Behind them, United don't have a professional full-back who feels comfortable in midfield like Timber, Zinchenko or Alexander-Arnold, but Ten Hag really loves Shaw and Wan-Bissaka, darting inside his winger from a tight position.< /p> 0308 Manchester United attacking structure
United's feature is Mount and Fernandez's willingness to go beyond the centre-forward, which the team needed in pre-season when Jadon Sancho was asked to take the lead. In addition, the pair are relentless in pressing, which is necessary to ensure that United's defensive approach in personal play remains glued.
Casemiro, Mount and Fernandes can miss the ball and slow down the rhythm necessary to control game, but United seem to be leaning towards a high-octane game based on aggression and fast direct attacks.
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