The formations Premier League bosses don't want you to know about
If Premier League teams could put out the formation and players that best served their tactics ... what would they choose?
MANCHESTER UNITED: The left-sided longshot
Luke Shaw, Daley Blind, Angel Di Maria and Marcos Rojo -- all new signings for United this summer and all left-footed. So how do you fit them all in? Easy. You make them all play down the left and hope the opposition doesn't notice there's a big gap on the other side of the pitch. This formation also deals with the question of what to do with Wayne Rooney, as most United fans are happy to shunt him off the pitch in order to get Falcao, Di Maria and Robin van Persie up front.
ARSENAL: Fox out of the box
Ever since the failure of Francis Jeffers, Arsene Wenger hasn't really gone for players who like to get into the box. Hence this rather attacking formation that would allow all Arsenal's playmakers to shift the ball around the final third without actually breaking through. Given that Wenger hasn't sought to strengthen the defensive midfield area this summer, we can just go ahead and leave that blank.
CHELSEA: Parking the proverbial bus
Jose Mourinho loves his tactics to be based on firm defence, so why not kill two birds with one stone? Get your two banks of four as close to each other as possible, and solve that tricky issue of who should play in goal by throwing both Thibaut Courtois and Petr Cech in the net. If you think this team wouldn't get goals, clearly you haven't seen Diego Costa so far this season -- frankly, he doesn't really need anyone else around him.
MAN CITY: Four-star service
Among all the stars who have arrived at Man City over recent years, four have really shone: Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Sergio Aguero. With Kompany covering as a sweeper, the issue of Joe Hart's confidence should be nullified, while Toure can play both his defensive and attacking roles in the middle of the park. Silva controls the wings, Aguero slots the ball away playing off himself, and another Premier League title is surely a formality.
LIVERPOOL: Diamonds are a Red's best friend
Brendan Rodgers loves a diamond formation. The issue is in midfield, where he tries to find the right slot for everyone. Really, all he needs is four Gerrards to sort that out, and everyone else can slot into a nice diamond themselves (even in defence). The one thing he won't be able to control is the madcap Mario Balotelli, who will, more than likely, enter the fray and position himself up front, whether he's in the starting XI or not.
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