The idea that the modern footballer has to be adaptable might lead some to think of players negotiating image rights one moment and securing sponsorship deals the next, but on the pitch that versatility has grown increasingly vital.

As fans we have a desire to become obsessed with formations, demanding that our teams line up in a certain way because it is, in our eyes, the best way to approach a fixture.

Perhaps that will all change soon though, and instead of seeing television graphics which place certain players in certain areas of the pitch we’ll instead just see a list of names; names who could take up any number of positions at any number of times.

Probably the best recent Liverpool example of ‘Changing Places’ came in Turin in the Champions League quarter-final second leg in April 2005.

Juventus, the Italian champions – Fabio Capello, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alessandro Del Piero, Pavel Nedved et al – were expecting to line up against a Liverpool back four in a second leg in which they were to attempt to come back from 2-1 down, and indeed that is what they did face up to as kick-off approached in Turin.

Yet mere seconds into the match, Rafael Benitez moved Djimi Traore inside to become a third centre-back, with John Arne Riise and Steve Finnan converted to wing-backs as Xabi Alonso and Igor Biscan looked to patrol the midfield.

It resulted in a stifled, slightly confused Juve struggle to break the Reds down, and although Liverpool enjoyed more than a slice of luck in keeping out Capello’s men it was surely deserved for the tactical bravery shown by their manager in the toughest of settings.

Very few away days have been celebrated in the manner of those on the road to Istanbul since 2005, but the last two might just have hinted that Brendan Rodgers is ready, willing and able to make similarly brave tactical choices during a match.

This isn’t supposed to be a comparison of a manager who took Liverpool to the kind of heights that many fear we’ll never see again and one who has been in a now tougher job for just over six months, but the manner in which Rodgers impressively altered his approach at Everton and Chelsea in the past few weeks has perhaps provided a hint of what is to come.

Of course there is an argument that if you’ve had to change your tactics during a match then that means you didn’t start it in the right manner – which is probably true of the Chelsea game on Sunday – but, to quote an old Benitez line, it is all about ‘controlling the game,’ and if that means switching things around from your initial plans then you have to be brave enough to do it.

Everton were on a high after coming back from 2-0 down to level at Goodison Park last month, but after the half-time introductions of Sebastian Coates, Jonjo Shelvey and a new formation it was difficult to think of anything that they did to threaten the Reds’ goal in the second half, and we all know what happened in injury-time there.

Similarly on Sunday at Stamford Bridge, the switches which saw Andre Wisdom become an orthodox right-back, Glen Johnson moved to the left, Jose Enrique pushed further forward and Suso arrive into the action saw the Reds become an attacking force in the game, with Luis Suarez grabbing an equaliser and then Enrique almost pinching two more points at the death.

These away draws were all well and good, but perhaps when he is afforded a few more attacking talents we’ll see Rodgers employ such switches in a more forward-thinking sense (Benitez once fielded ‘double wingers’ in Albert Riera and Nabil El Zhar on the left, and Yossi Benayoun and Jermaine Pennant on the right as the Reds chased a game against Wigan. It worked) but given his squad situation, the current Reds boss has to be happy with the amount of ‘transformers’ he can call upon.

Transforming draws into wins is the next challenge of course, and getting points on the board is essential in the next few weeks and beyond.

Liverpool might be an armchair tactician’s nightmare at the moment, but it’s time for the players to start giving the opposition sleepless nights too.

However they’re lined up.

@Mark_Jones86

For more of Mark's blogs as well as top fantasy football advice, comment and opinion visit Fantasy Yirma.