Liverpool Manager Brendan Rodgers made the unusual, risky yet necessary step of playing without a striker against Young Boys in the Europa League on Thursday night.
It nearly worked, twice Liverpool went ahead through Johnjo Shelvey and then Joe Cole, but Young Boys came back to draw the game 2-2.
The result means that Liverpool did not qualify for the last 32 on the night and must now hope to beat Udinese in Italy, Dec 6th.to go through.
Curiously, World and European Champions Spain deployed teams without a recognised striker during the Euro 2012 Finals in the Summer.
Opting for a 4-6-1 line-up, Vicente del Bosque’s team drew with Italy, hammered poor old Ireland 4-0, beat Croatia, France and Portugal and destroyed Italy in the Final 4-0 using this seemingly negative system.
When you have team of outstanding mid-fielders and very few top forwards either under-performing (Torres) or injured like David Villa, then needs must.
And needs must it most certainly is for Liverpool boss, Brendan Rodgers, he opted to play Young Boys of Berne without a recognised forward on Thursday night with Jonjo Shelvey and Joe Cole given a licence to run at the Swiss defence.
It almost paid-off for The Ulsterman as Liverpool lead twice and dominated the game only to concede a late equaliser.
I am not saying we are anything like La Roja, who are and have been the best international side for many a year, but it is interesting to see our Manager adopt similar tactics that nearly paid off in the Europa League out of necessity rather than philosophy.
Lets hope the January transfer window will see some quality arrivals at the club and we can then consign the 1-4-6 formation to the dustbin.