Key concern about Oliver Glasner replacing Arne Slot as Liverpool manager has been debunked - opinion
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Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been mooted to become the next Liverpool manager.Arne Slot’s future continues to be a major talking point among the Reds faithful, and who can blame them?Liverpool fans aren’t happy with Slot for a variety of reasons, including his treatment of Federico Chiesa and, of course, the dire run of form they have been on at Anfield.Join our newsletter for news & smart analysis. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say More recently, reports in Austria said Glasner may expect a phone call from those in a position of power at Anfield.Oliver Glasner would struggle to play a back-three with LiverpoolAs talk over who could be Liverpool’s next manager rumbles on, there has been concern in the fanbase about the manager’s formation.When responding to fresh links to Glasner this week, one fan stated: “I’ll pull my hair out having to watch a three at the back system with this team…”The 51-year-old has been at Selhurst Park since February 2024, and during that time, has deployed either a 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-3 system.Should he attempt to implement a similar system at Anfield, the Palace boss may struggle.Liverpool only have three fit centre-backs right now, so an injury to any one of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez or Ibrahima Konate would greatly hamper their backline.However, should he replace Slot in the dugout, Glasner has already explained that he is not tied down to just one system.
Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say What is Oliver Glasner’s preferred formationWhile the Austrian has never deviated from a back-three at Palace, he enjoyed success with a 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 at previous clubs.Crucially, as per Sky Sports, Glasner has already stressed that the system is not important and must fit the players, adding that his favourite formation is a 4-4-2.He said: “It must fit the players [the system].“There is too much discussion about the system. Got promoted in Austria with a 4-4-2, then we switched to a 3-4-3.
In Wolfsburg, we reached the Champions League with a 4-2-3-1. In Frankfurt, they played with three at the back before and it fit the squad.“I always look at what system might suit the players we have best.“My favourite system is 4-4-2 but do we have the right players for this?”Liverpool are not known for playing a 4-4-2, but given they now have two very expensive centre-forwards in Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak, it could be an option for Glasner on Merseyside.