Explaining the demands of the modern No. 6 role, why true specialists are so rare, and how Liverpool’s current midfield balance leaves them open in transition and on the counter-attack.
Liverpool and the modern No. 6 conundrum
The so-called 6 used to be easy to define. He is responsible for stopping the attack and is expected to do whatever it takes to achieve this goal. Hence the image of a player always willing to crush and dominate the midfield, giving space for his more skilful teammates to shine. However, over time we see this change. From Villa to Alonso to Rodri, you can see that this is increasingly no longer true. So what does “6” do?
Broadly speaking, the Six is responsible for linking the defense with the midfield and attack, while protecting them from the opposition midfield and attack. He is also the one responsible for setting the pace of the game.
So essentially they need to be good at three things:
1. Pressure resistant. Easily receive the ball under pressure whether facing away from or facing the goal
2. Able to advance the ball by passing the ball, dribbling forward and setting attack angles when in possession (for example, the coach may want the offense to develop from both wings, etc.)
3. Cover and defend when out of control. This may include blocking passing lanes, determining the distance of teammates and anticipating any danger. Nowadays, that increasingly means that, given his role in coverage, he needs to stay on his feet as much as possible without being tackled. People prefer a sneaky foul to a tackle, which at best results in a yellow card and at worst leaves him lying on the ground while the opponent presses forward towards goal.
All of this means that coaches are looking for a unicorn when it comes to finding a modern number six. He is an excellent passer (long and short), has great ball skills, is not under pressure, can control the tempo of the game, has incredible vision and above all is incredibly smart (in a footballing sense). It helps if they are strong and mobile (so they can cover teammates who are out of position).
In fact, people who can do it all are so rare that coaches often adopt a dual-pivot approach, hoping that two players will combine to meet these requirements. There is a reason why Barcelona are prepared to pay such a large fee for a 30-year-old player like Rodri. In fact, given his intelligence and vision, I expect Rodri to continue playing in the top flight for at least another 6-7 years.
Obviously, the requirements of this role will vary depending on the needs of the team. A team that is expected to be under constant defensive pressure and have low possession rates will gravitate towards someone like Paulinho as they expect his teammates to be close. However, if you’re looking to dominate in possession, you’re more likely to go for someone like Rodri, who allows you to make the most of possession while ensuring you don’t get caught on the break (he’s great at “tactical fouls”).
So what does this mean for Liverpool:
Look at our current situation and you will see a lack of balance. While Graf is very good at taking the ball under pressure and moving it forward, his passing is fair at best and I think he lacks vision. Of course, when he takes the ball out, he seems to forget his defensive position. While he’s good at tactical fouls, he’s often too far out to execute them.
This would help explain why we are so open and vulnerable to pushback during transformation. Given that we just recently re-signed him, I don’t think we’re likely to replace him. Typically, the No. 8 position alleviates this problem, not only helping him pass the ball but also providing cover when he dribbles the ball. However, despite Sob’s undoubted qualities, he was too focused and slow to react in screens.
He often rushes forward to join the attack without thinking about the danger. Makar, on the other hand, is too slow (or lying on the ground) to cover. If we’re going to stick with Graf, then Sorb needs to learn to read the game quicker in order to cover Graf (rather than just pursue him on defense). There was often too much space between our midfield three or between midfield and the backline, leaving the defense exposed in transition.
One of the hallmarks of Liverpool under Klopp is the willingness and awareness of the midfielders to cover for each other, even if it means sacrificing their own play. This makes it easier for someone like Fabinho to assume the No. 6 role. If Sorb can modify his game to help Graf out of trouble, it will go a long way toward making us less vulnerable in transition. Beyond that, Graf needs to change his game so that he relies more on passing the ball than holding the ball. It will help him not be stuck too far upfield if we concede the ball.
Fabinho, for example, rarely tries to challenge players, recognizing his responsibility (as the last man in midfield) not to lose possession of the ball and cause mistakes. Regardless, if we want to improve, the imbalance in the midfield is arguably the biggest problem Andoni needs to solve this year. The focus of the transfer policy is clearly to address our need for fast wide players. So I expect that, unless a good fit can be found that doesn’t cost too much, Andoni will look to resolve this issue internally.
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