3 different formations Chelsea could use this season | Premier League 2019/20

After back to back defeats at the hands of Manchester United and Liverpool, Frank Lampard’s Chelsea are already at a crossroads. Despite still being in August, many fans are questioning whether this squad is good enough to compete with the rest. The season-long transfer ban has heavily hampered Chelsea’s plans, but Lampard knew that before coming.

Regardless, many a positive can be taken from the Blues’ opening two performances. Lampard’s side created a host of chances at Old Trafford and Istanbul, but didn’t have the clinical nature to make them count. Across the 210 minutes, Chelsea fired 13 shots on target, attempting an impressive 38 in total.

To ensure Chelsea’s style expansive style of play doesn’t become predictable, the Blues boss must vary his tactics over the course of the season.

Here are three formations Frank Lampard could use this season.

#3 Direct 4-4-2

Kepa, Azpi, Rudiger, Christensen, Emerson, Kante, Jorginho, Hudson-Odoi, Willian, Abraham, Giroud

Good ol’ fashioned or an unexpected tweak? To many people, the 4-4-2 resembles a system of the past before Jose Mourinho introduced the defensive midfielder in 2004.

Most teams across the globe were comfortable with this formation and recruited personnel based on it. Now the precious 4-2-3-1 is the most commonly used formation.

However, the 4-4-2 gives Frank Lampard a plan B in times where his initial 4-3-3 tactic doesn’t produce the expected results.

This system relies on having two strikers who are the aerial focal points. These forwards are supported by wide players whose sole aim is to get crosses into the box.

It may sound one-dimensional, but the primary focus of this tactic is to get balls in the box for the target men to latch onto. This tactic provides a dramatic switch in style of play which could hopefully catch teams unaware.

#2 Counter-Attacking 3-4-3

Kepa, Zouma, Christensen, Rüdiger, Azpi, Emerson, Kante, Jorginho, Pedro, Hudson-Odoi, Giroud

Last season, Frank Lampard’s Derby side dominated every pitch they stepped onto. They weren’t afraid to implement their philosophy against any team, be it home or away.

In the Premier League, the new Blues boss may have to sacrifice that bravery. The 3-4-3 provides a compromise, in allowing Lampard to still commit many players forward whilst providing the option to be more conservative and compact.

This formation offers Chelsea the chance to have more defensive-minded players on the pitch, as it seeks to plug holes at the back. Chelsea could use this tactic in a counter-attacking manner, with the intention of seeing out games or as a starting system against the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool at their grounds.

There are no other grounds in the country that should force Chelsea to refrain from using their primary tactic.

#1 Fluid 4-3-3

Kepa, Azpi, Christensen, Rüdiger, Emerson, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Pulisic, Hudson-Odoi, Batshuayi.

As we’ve seen over the past week, Frank Lampard favors a fluid 4-3-3. Not only does he want it to be free-flowing, but he also instructs his wide men to be narrow too.

Much has been made of Chelsea’s lack of an apparent top-quality striker but that’s why the Blues boss has put so much emphasis on each of the front three making attacking runs in behind the opposing defence, looking to overload the CBs especially.

N’Golo Kante as the RCM that makes third-man runs into the box has worked surprisingly well so far. Maurizio Sarri was heavily criticised for this same decision last season, but clearly, Lampard’s implementation of it is much more effective.

This system requires intelligent movement from all the front three, that’s why I feel Michi Batshuayi would be a much more suitable pick than Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud.

Frank Lamapard himself confirmed that the Belgian still has a future at the club, stating he would be competing for the ST spot against Tammy and Oli.