Well, it looks like 4-4-2 is not the answer then.
As pundits, have pointed out, Manuel Pellegrini's preferred formation fell flat on its face against Liverpool, just days after it left his Manchester City players out-numbered at home to Barcelona in the Champions League.
Yesterday's 2-1 result saw Liverpool's 3-4-3 aid Philippe Coutinho, Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana to infiltrate the large gaps between Man City's midfield and defence.
As pointed out elsewhere, the lack of defensive discipline from Yaya Toure and in particular, Samir Nasri and David Silva, left the back four and holding player Fernandinho isolated.
But it was the formation which also caused plenty of consternation. On the face of it, playing two men up front as City did with Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero makes some sense against a back three (indeed, that combination created the City equaliser).
This Squawka graphic shows the channels where Coutinho and Lallana tended to roam
But it also makes sense for the team playing the back three as two players can mark, leaving a spare man at the back.
If City had gone for an extra man in midfield i.e Fernando, it would have left one striker on his own against three players. But with extra protection in the City own midfield, they may well have been able to unleash Toure, Nasri and Silva further forward with fewer worries at the back.
Additionally, for a centre-back it can be more tricky to keep an eye on a runner from deep than a striker in his midst.
And at the other end, with Fernando and Fernandinho sitting in front of the back four, it would have helped cut off the space that Liverpool's forward trio had been occupying, especially if the City holding pair had been tasked with keeping a vigilant eye on the channels between central and wide zones.
Unfortunately, for City whatever they do for the rest of the season, the league title appears too far from their grasp.
For more stats from that game and other matches from the Premier League and Europe, go to Squawka
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