FORMATION · 5 AT THE BACK
The 5-4-1 formation
Five at the back, four across midfield, one striker in front of them.
The shape
1
GK
2
RWB
3
CB
4
CB
5
CB
6
LWB
7
RM
8
CM
9
CM
10
LM
11
ST
Formation 5-4-1
What it gives you
The most bodies behind the ball of any common shape.
What it costs you
It concedes the game plan with it, and the striker will spend the afternoon alone.
Positions
GKRWBCBCBCBLWBRMCMCMLMST
Who plays it
The 5-4-1 is the 10th most-used shape of the 22 we track: 86 of the 5,080 lineups we hold from the leagues we cover this season, 2% of them.