by Multi-position players have come a long way since Paul Warhurst was happy to fill in where needed or Dion Dublin asked for the goalkeeping position in the latter stages of his career. The modern game has a new breed that can adapt within a game, moving roles in tune with their intelligence and when they think they can make the most impact.
On Sunday Trent Alexander-Arnold was placed at right-back on the pre-match chart against Fulham, although that did not reflect his performance this afternoon. As an inverted back he would appear in the middle of the field, trying to overload, or he slotted between the center backs in order to get the ball and use his passing range to change the dynamic attacks.
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The objective of Alexander-Arnold and his colleagues is to bring controlled chaos to teams that want to dominate possession. Alexander-Arnold sums up his role like this: “I think the way I see it and the way I’m told and explained to play it [at Liverpool], I’m almost a midfielder when we have the ball and when we don’t have the ball I’m a right back.” The fourth player in central areas, as Liverpool had against Fulham, can help counter any man-marking system that opponents may be using in an attempt to prevent attacks as they feel the need to which is to oppress the man who possesses it, which frees another.
It is alarming that a team playing 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 is required for elite football spectators. It is a coach’s genius to create these distinct roles, catering to an individual’s skill set and maximizing their assets for the benefit of the team. What John Stones does for Manchester City is very different to what Alexander-Arnold does for Liverpool and they could not be transferred.
When Stones was injured in November, Pep Guardiola declared “we are in trouble” knowing how important the defender-cum-midfielder is to City. Manuel Akanji has stepped into the breach, although he is not on the same level as Stones when it comes to dealing with the complexity of the role, although Rico Lewis has shown promise and could become fluent in this fluid in the coming years.
Lewis was brought through a modern academy. He was 11 when Guardiola arrived at City and implemented his blueprint showing how he was going to play, although this has been adapted over time. Coaches at age group level at clubs around the world ensure that their players receive a varied education on the pitch and this often means experience playing in multiple positions to gain a better understanding of what is required in positions they are not. used to them.
However, the problem is not how well the person knows their role but the understanding of their colleagues on how they must adapt to fill in when the player in question leaves their traditional position. There were times when Alexander-Arnold’s move into midfield allowed Fulham to break Liverpool, exploiting the space left at right-back, and that’s how Anfield scored their first goal. Defenders need to be smarter when their team-mate goes further forward to give them the best chance of stopping attacks as allowing a team a lot of space in the Premier League is a dangerous game.
Only Virgil van Dijk was more involved than Alexander-Arnold at the weekend. Jürgen Klopp saw the impact Alexander-Arnold was having from his nominal right back position and decided he could be more penetrating from midfield and help Joe Gomez provide a more stable force at the back, so it was done in the second half. centres. It shows the faith the manager has in his player and the comfort a confident Alexander-Arnold brings, who has now scored important late goals in his last two league games.
Players don’t just roam for protection. Hybrid wings can give your team a different shape. They aim to be wide with a team defending but able to move inside to collect the ball in potentially more dangerous positions, and create space for full-backs on the overlap.
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The game will continue to develop, especially with a collection of innovators at the highest level, many taking inspiration from what Johan Cruyff did decades earlier. They will influence their successors who will look at football from a different perspective and come up with other ideas to add to the current climate of tactical discourse that is moving the game forward.
As Alexander-Arnold, Stones and others prove it is a concept that is reaping rewards from their coaches. For opponents, it is difficult trying to stop someone who has such a free role because it is difficult to know where they will appear on the field, which makes players question themselves again and once again hoping to stay ahead of the game.
The next generation of players will see what is needed. The roles involve discipline, intelligence and immense technical quality. Strikers like Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland are treated like gold dust but hybrid players will be worth their weight in precious metal.
