Every now and then when people complain about the lack of goals, fans start comparing Martial to Firmino and talk about the Liverpool style. This is total nonsense. Firmino offers a lot more to the team with his (1) tireless off-the-ball movement dragging opponents away and creating spaces for teammates; and (2) frequent on-the-ball involvement in the game linking up play. Martial, on the contrary, is often a passenger and struggles to participate in the game. Goal tally is the only similarity between them.
Again, just take some time and look at our posession at 43rd minute against Leicester. Martial is straying and wandering at the halfway line throughout our attack, from our buildup at the back to the ball ending in the final third. It's not about body language or facial expression, he's actually missing from the game and this doesn't suit any style of football. Honestly I'm not a fan of Cavani, but he simply demonstrates how to play as a proper center forward with his limited time of the pitch.
I'm personally giving up a bit on Martial but I disagree with this.
Rashford isnt good as Mane. Greenwood is not good as Salah.
The system is near identical; the 4231 instead of the 433 - with Martial being a player that drops deep and creates regularly for forwards around him.
Yet, I dont think a 4231 is the best way to get the most out of a false 9 personally - players like Rashford and Greenwood can 80% of the time find themselves way too wide on the pitch by the touchline waiting for the ball rather than making runs as inverted forwards in a 433 which tends to be the traditional false 9 formation because the wider forwards are able to cut in and take the central areas of the pitch.
There is reasons why Ole may feel like he cant use a 433 -
A) that Bruno needs to play in a 4231 as high up the pitch as possible; which then defeats the purposes a bit of a false 9.
B) We dont have a right CDM to play such a formation in the first place so have had to result in playing two hard working energetic box to box/pressing midfielders
For me Martial is similar to Firmino and his energy or his work rate doesnt change the ideal role he plays from a bit deeper away from the CB's. Messi wasnt running around like Fred whilst playing like a false 9 either. It's all about the positions he takes and the positions his team mates are able to take because of him.