A 'Why Liverpool should sign Erling Haaland' Thread.

A few caveats:

It doesn't need to be Haaland. I'll use him as the focus because he's a perfect example of the kind of player I'm identifying. Substitute your own.

It doesn't mean an end to Firmino at Liverpool

It does mean a general change of shape, but not necessarily system.

First move would be a general shift from the tried and trusted 4-3-3 to a conventional 4-2-3-1.

Firmino would revert to a more traditional 10, Salah and
Mané the inside forwards, Haaland the centre forward.

The midfield remains an industrious safety net, wing backs remain key.

It's true Firmino enables the effective, more glamourous work of those two forwards. He does a lot of selfless running and his defensive input is usually exemplary. Liverpool miss him when he isn't there. But that kind of input doesn't necessarily need to come from the point man.

By allowing Firmino to drop deeper, offering a free role between a 10 and his brand of a 9, he is able to press and hassle, recover the ball, link play, challenge for duels and do all that enabling without being the sole centre forward. He will more have options, greater support.

In Liverpool's 4-3-3, Firmino is often a centre forward. Stylistically he doesn't usually behave like one, at least not an offensive, traditional goal threat of a CF, but positionally that's where he is. He either moves up to be point, or moves back to form a kind of 1-2 as a 10.

Movement, pressing, everything mentioned that he performs in that area does allow those half spaces to open, which is where Salah and Mané have generally done really well for Liverpool.

My question is: can you have that input AS WELL AS having a more direct central threat?

Enter Haaland.

Stylistically he's going to play on the last man. He is going to force defensive lines back and, in combination with Mane and Salah, force them to be compact.

The benefit for wing-backs here would be obvious. LFC have two of the best wing-backs in the game.

What Haaland offers is strong hold-up play through control, great timing, a strong all-around skill set for finishing, incredible accuracy in his shooting, sharp movement in the box and a deceptively strong set of physical attributes. He is a dream to have around the penalty area

23 goals in Bundesliga, 14 xG.
63 shots, 57% on target
43% Dribble success
63% Passes to penalty area accuracy
63% Defensive duels won

As 20 y/o strikers go, he's currently quite flawless. For the level he's currently at, he could play anywhere. In 3-6 years? Sky's the limit.

Haaland offers pure finishing from central areas. Liverpool offer industry, pace, relentless attacking from wide FW and inside FW positions. What Haaland offers, Liverpool currently lack.

A man on the end of crosses, a man offering viable, constant danger through the centre.

The midfield would change, Firmino becomes closer to the other two (ideally two of Henderson, Fabinho and Thiago), and those two become pivots or anchors. They cover wingbacks and offer 2nd phase progression from centre backs. Firmino is now an attacking midfielder.

Salah and Mane remain as they are. Jota rotates with them. Minamino and Shaqiri can play Firmino's position. Haaland would be the only CF but that's something Klopp can think about. It's possible for Salah to play there (but not ideal). The options fit quite naturally, I think.

Liverpool maintain threat from outside to inside areas, threat that saw Mane and Salah become renowned.

Firmino drops into a more suitable area. More time/space. More teammates ahead of him.

Haaland is in his element with some of the world's most dangerous creative goalscorers.

The need for change or evolution is realised, Liverpool become infinitely less predictable and therefore more dangerous if you put Erling Haaland in that team.