In a reversal of what we saw in the first game of the Premier League season, Mason Mount started in a wider position last night, with Kai Havertz playing in the middle.
This clearly suited both of them a lot more than the previous configuration.
Havertz scored a hattrick, so the benefits to him were plain for all to see. But Mason – while still at his best down the middle – looked great out wide. While he’s hardly a natural dribbler, his delivery makes him a threat when he has the ball down the flanks.
His work rate also means that the full back on that side can feel well protected, and can move into more attacking positions, making up for the lack of dribbling on Mount’s part.
We may see other formations tried where both line up together in the middle in the future, but on this evidence, while Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech are still not fit, Mount will take priority as the man asked to run the line while Havertz plays through the middle.
