Brendan Rodgers has been at Anfield for over 12 months now. So with one full summer and the first few weeks of the current window underway, his blueprint becomes clearer.
From Philippe Coutinho to Daniel Sturridge and Iago Aspas to Henrikh Mkhitaryan, it is clear that Liverpool have signed or are courting young, fluid and versatile players to fit more ably into Rodgers’ favoured 4-3-3.
The latest object of Liverpool’s affections is Ukraine-based Armenian Mkhitaryan who will probably be rebaptized as Micky on Merseyside for ease of pronunciation.
Hugely versatile, the 24-year-old can lead the line but in reality excels more in a role directly behind the main forward or as a deep-lying playmaker.
For the most part, his club side Shakthar Donetsk won a Ukrainian League/Cup double and reached the Champions League knockout-stages based around a 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-4-1 with Mkhitaryan lodged in the hole behind the main striker.
It is a position he has excelled in, netting an astonishing 25 goals in 28 league games which made him the Ukrainian league’s runaway top scorer. Of course one must note that he netted the goals in a relatively weak league for the most dominant side.
However he has not been an out-and-out striker for most of this season and his 10 assists should not be forgotten either. His assists tally was the third highest in Ukraine.
By no means is it a done deal but the indications are that Liverpool are confident that they are a top of the queue to complete a £20 million move, despite interest from the Bundesliga.
And how would he fit in at Anfield?
The likelihood is that he would be fielded in the hole behind the striker, intriguingly the same spot that Luis Suarez excels in.
Realistically, because of Liverpool’s relatively tight budget, lack of Champions League money and Mkhitaryan’s projected fee, it would be difficult to see the Reds keeping both players.
Replacing Suarez will be difficult, but not impossible as history has often shown with individual stars that have left other teams.
With a starting forward line of Sturridge who can drift from a central position to the flanks, Coutinho and Aspas or Fabio Borini cutting in from the wings, and Mkhitaryan making runs from an advanced midfield position there is a great degree of flexibility and goals in the final third as Rodgers tries to remodel the team in his image.
Even looking at some of the other young players the manager has been tracking, versatility and technique has been the most sought after quality with Sevilla’s 20-year-old Luis Alberto a key example of the template required.
