Historically a ‘libero ’ plays behind the CBS.Not really. JP played a DCM pivot in a tight positional DCM role (similar to Weiffer’s role at Feyenoord but not a ‘libero’/CB/DCM. Webster was in a back 3, yes, but as a dedicated central CB. In Hürzeler’s startup, the CB is the DCM out of possession.
It was a slightly different system that day against Fulham to either Slot’s at Feyenoord (where he plays 4-2-3-1) or Hürzeler’s 3-4-3 but it was a tweak RDZ’s system - maybe in anticipation of Fulham being a team that wouldn’t take the bait to press high but would sit in a low block and hit us on the counterattacks? - If his aim was to play an intense press against Fulham but to fall into a high 5 man block (with VH and Baleba dropping back) if we lost possession (which is what Hürzeler does btw to defend against counterattacks ) then it might have worked if we knew what we were doing - but that’s the problem with rigid positional systems like De Zerbi ball, players get so wedded to a position and which players are where at any given time, when you try and mix it up/change it up, they can look like headless chickens.
JP sat in front….. trouble is Webbo and Dunk had nightmares, but my point remains he has played as a CDM.