Why the big man up front is back in vogue

City and Liverpool have now recruited two old-fashioned forwards to spice up their attack in era of five substitutes

Playing over a press in big matches

The arrival of Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez could give Manchester City and Liverpool a totally different feel next season, and while there is far more to both players’ games than brute force, they do offer a physical presence and stature previously absent from their respective squads.

With Harry Kane leading the line for Tottenham Hotspur and the possibility of Romelu Lukaku staying at Chelsea, the big centre-forward could make a comeback next season, and playing over a press is undoubtedly part of the reason why.

Exemplified by City and Liverpool, well-structured and coordinated pressing has been one of the themes of recent seasons, especially in the biggest matches.

City and Liverpool back themselves to pass through the pressure when opponents are brave enough to engage them high up the pitch. Against a particularly troublesome opponent or in unfavourable conditions, though, the ability to go straight over the press can be an effective weapon.

With Haaland and Nunez in the No9 role, City and Liverpool could play into them directly and focus on winning the second ball, or send them running into space behind the defence.

Both teams have goalkeepers who can pass over long range, with every City outfielder in play when Ederson has the ball at his feet. His assist for Ilkay Gundogan against Tottenham in February 2021 is the type of ball Haaland will make even more dangerous.

This strategy need not be in conflict with a desire to play out from the back. Rather like a bowler setting up a batsman with decoy deliveries in cricket, playing short can draw opponents on before surprising them with a more direct pass. Should the defending team drop to cover that option, there is more time to play short and the game of cat and mouse continues.

Penalty-box presence against deep defences

In some of City and Liverpool’s biggest games last season, they were blighted by profligacy in front of goal. This cost City dearly in the Champions League against Real Madrid, while Liverpool’s missed chances were not as fateful thanks to beating Chelsea on penalties in both domestic cup finals. Like City, though, they spurned opportunities to bury Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

This can largely be put down to variance and misfortune, but Haaland and Nunez will offer greater penalty-box potency. When City and Liverpool face a barricaded defence manned by nine or 10 players, they will be expected to make the difference.

In league football last season, both strikers produced comparable output. Haaland scored 22 goals to Nunez’s 26, but edged expected goals per 90 minutes 0.87 to 0.83. Nunez took slightly more shots at 3.85 per 90 minutes to Haaland’s 3.76. The Norwegian produced more assists, with seven to Nunez’s four.

One area Nunez has supremacy is dribbling. Despite being a central striker, he is fond of drifting out to the left flank and running at defenders with the ball at his feet. He and Luis Diaz could rotate positions, but it is clear why Liverpool feel Nunez can replace Sadio Mane. Despite their different frames, they operate in similar areas.

Five substitutes changing the game

Haaland is likely to start every match for City, while Klopp may choose to bed Nunez in more slowly.

The move to five substitutes next season, though, offers coaches a multitude of ways to strategise and pace their team through a game. While both strikers will expect starts, there is the possibility of holding them back until the hour mark before unleashing them at a tiring defence. When chasing a goal against a parked bus, they are potentially more effective substitutes.

City and Liverpool already have incredible reserves of talent, but two additional substitutes further incentivises the ruthless acquisition of forwards. Whether that is good for the health of the sport is a separate debate, but the biggest clubs will make sure they start the season with a stacked bench.

Coaches will want at least three reliable, proven attacking options in reserve. Having players such as Diogo Jota or Riyad Mahrez on the bench would once have been viewed as an unsustainable indulgence, but is more justifiable in the era of five substitutes.

The new rules have increased demand in an already over-heated striker market.