Apart from issues with inconsistency, Liverpool’s performances have been generally encouraging since the club strengthened in the January transfer window.

Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho have been positive signings and for a while manager Brendan Rodgers found a decent formula with the 4-2-3-1, featuring Luis Suarez behind Daniel Sturridge.

Yet in the last two league fixtures, Rodgers has reverted to the 4-3-3 which he seems to favour.

The catalyst for the move seems to have been the 3 – 1 defeat to Southampton on March 16^th.

The Reds were extremely poor in that match, which had followed a run of three straight wins that saw them score 12 and concede just twice.

Scapegoat

But the former Swansea boss is either looking at Daniel Sturridge as a scapegoat for that defeat especially as the England striker has not scored from open play since February 3^rd.

Sturridge last started against the Saints - and set up the only goal - but in the meantime young Brazilian Coutinho has become a fixture on the left wing.

Coutinho has scored twice and assisted three times in his last five and seems suited to a 4-3-3 where he has fewer defensive responsibilities.

But the 4-3-3 does not suit Luis Suarez when it comes to goalscoring as his positioning at the point of the attack as a quasi-false 9 makes him easier to defend against as he is less dangerous from behind the back line. Consequently he appeared more stunted than usual against Aston Villa and West Ham, failing to score even though he netted six in the previous four.

With Suarez up front, the onus is then on Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson in particular to break forward from midfield but the captain is less dynamic these days while the ex-Sunderland man lacks the consistency to make an impact.

Rodgers has always preferred the 4-3-3 but he may need to rethink and return to the much more successful 4-2-3-1 which was giving a good balance between attack and defence and getting the best out of Suarez.