Roma started 2024 with Jose Mourinho in charge, playing three at the back, but by mid-January, club legend Daniele de Rossi replaced him to set about making the Giallorossi more expansive.

With Romelu Lukaku spearheading a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, the goals started flowing. De Rossi won six of his opening seven in Serie A, while the team scored in every league match to climb from ninth to sixth.

Having also reached a Europa League semi-final, De Rossi was rewarded with an extended contract, but things haven’t gone to plan since....

Without a win from their opening four games of the new Serie A season, De Rossi was sacked.

The team were 16th, but there had been a high turnover of players - including the end of Lukaku’s 21-goal loan from Chelsea.

Croatian manager Ivan Juric restored the team to a three-man defence, with Lukaku’s replacement Artem Dovbyk the focal point to build their attacks around.

Part of Juric’s downfall was trying to apply ‘man-to-man’ marking all over the pitch, as he’d done at Torino - but without the quickest defenders, it was a system that stuttered.

Four wins in 12 games ended his brief reign before Ranieri’s return last week.

The former Chelsea and Leicester boss proved a compelling listen in his first press conference, talking about how he wouldn’t commit to any formation or system.

Starting the weekend fixture at league leaders Napoli with a four-man defence, he switched to three at the back at half-time.

“The objective was to keep more of the ball, which we did in the second half,” Ranieri explained. “We also prevented Napoli creating so many chances… I thought this way we could be more solid and try to get a foothold in the game.”

This may open the door to Mats Hummels - a Champions League finalist with Dortmund last season who has barely featured since a summer move.

During Leicester's remarkable title success under Ranieri, the team became defensively solid while devastating on the counter - with Riyad Mahrez’s skill and Jamie Vardy’s pace and finishing.

However, Ranieri was also dependent on N’Golo Kanté in central midfield, and it’s reported Borussia Monchengladbach loanee Manu Kone could be in line for a similar role, having started and impressed in France’s 3-1 with over Italy this month.

After a weekend start, however, will he be involved tonight?

Ranieri was likely ahead of his time for his constant rotation at Chelsea in the early 2000s, earning him his ‘Tinkerman’ nickname.

In attack, Roma fans have picked up on the fact their team aren’t ruthless enough.

The numbers back it up - having scored just 14 goals in Serie A despite an xG of 18.34.

Dovbyk has six already in all competitions, having finished as La Liga’s surprise top scorer last season with Girona. Another issue is the use of Paulo Dybala, who got late minutes in Naples despite not being fully fit. Incidentally, Roma lost that game at Napoli, compounded by Lukaku netting the only goal of the game.

The superb left-footed forward Dybala can produce magic, scoring 16 and assisting 10 last season - while the team have a much higher win percentage when he’s involved.

But Roma spent big to sign compatriot Matias Soule from Juventus, who may look to occupy similar positions. The Argentinian shone at Frosinone last season, cutting in from the right to finish chances with his left.

Surprisingly unused on Sunday, he may be unleashed tonight.