Tactics geeks of the world unite...

Even then I think it should be within reason. If it's every single time we have the ball then the opposition know what we're going to do, whereas if we mix it up a bit more then it might catch them off guard. And it's not like he can't be dangerous from the right wing. We've seen for years he is as good as anybody in world football playing that role.

The Villa game was interesting as he didn't play so much as an extra midfielder but instead more of a centre half when we had the ball, so I'm keen to see if that's how we use him in the future or once fit again he just starts to leg it back into the middle of the park every time we've got possession. 

The Villa game was interesting as they clearly had looked to crowd the area where Trent had been playing previously.
Shifting across to CB instead of into the CM area gave him the space to ping passes as required.

Not in a million years do I think we'll go down this route and probably with good reason but do people think we could move Van Dijk into the "number 6" position?

He's got the passing range to spring us forward, he's a defender first and foremost so he'll have that mindset, he's got the positional sense and although he's lost a bit of pace over the last few years he's still no slouch. If Trent moves into midfield during a game, Virg can just move back and Konate or Gomez can cover at right back. It might also be the shot in the arm Van Dijk needs as his form at centre half has been getting increasingly worse since the injury.

I don't know if he's quick footed enough to receive the ball in tight areas and avoid a pressing forward/midfielder though, which is something we've struggled with for a while in our midfield. It was something Xabi Alonso, especially, excelled at. Remember the year where four or five red cards got given for fouls on him alone?

As I said at the start of the post though, there's probably a million and one good reasons why it won't happen and even more why it shouldn't. Was just throwing it out there as a possible alternative.

Simply no.

We have others who are better skilled to  play that position.

Not in a million years do I think we'll go down this route and probably with good reason but do people think we could move Van Dijk into the "number 6" position?

He's got the passing range to spring us forward, he's a defender first and foremost so he'll have that mindset, he's got the positional sense and although he's lost a bit of pace over the last few years he's still no slouch. If Trent moves into midfield during a game, Virg can just move back and Konate or Gomez can cover at right back. It might also be the shot in the arm Van Dijk needs as his form at centre half has been getting increasingly worse since the injury.

I don't know if he's quick footed enough to receive the ball in tight areas and avoid a pressing forward/midfielder though, which is something we've struggled with for a while in our midfield. It was something Xabi Alonso, especially, excelled at. Remember the year where four or five red cards got given for fouls on him alone?

As I said at the start of the post though, there's probably a million and one good reasons why it won't happen and even more why it shouldn't. Was just throwing it out there as a possible alternative.

Rather than give him the 6 role I think he'd be suited to the central of the 3 or the role of a CB given licence to move forward. For all the talk of Gomez not being suited to moving into midfield from the RB role, the other option is to have VvD move from the CB position into midfield, but only when the defenders are there that can cover behind.

So, if Trent is not available to move up, maybe look at VvD.
For that to happen then all the other CBs need to be fit.

Personally I think 1-4-2-3-1 suits the squad better now.
Certainly when Trent isn't available.

Rather than give him the 6 role I think he'd be suited to the central of the 3 or the role of a CB given licence to move forward. For all the talk of Gomez not being suited to moving into midfield from the RB role, the other option is to have VvD move from the CB position into midfield, but only when the defenders are there that can cover behind.

I think a back three could be really beneficial to us. A 3-4-3 with Trent and Robbo playing as wing backs/wide midfielders can easily become our more traditional 4-3-3 whenever we want. But I think, for me, I'd keep Van Dijk as the left sided centre half.

I know a lot were really keen to see us sign a left sided centre half in the summer and if we do in the future then maybe Van Dijk will become more central if (and it's it a big if) we were to change system.

Alisson
Gomez Konate Van Dijk
Trent Szoboszlai Mac Allister Robertson
Salah Nunez Diaz

Personally I think 1-4-2-3-1 suits the squad better now.
Certainly when Trent isn't available.

If everyone, other than Trent, was fit for a League winning fixture what 11 would you start with mate in that system?

I think a back three could be really beneficial to us. A 3-4-3 with Trent and Robbo playing as wing backs/wide midfielders can easily become our more traditional 4-3-3 whenever we want. But I think, for me, I'd keep Van Dijk as the left sided centre half.

I know a lot were really keen to see us sign a left sided centre half in the summer and if we do in the future then maybe Van Dijk will become more central if (and it's it a big if) we were to change system.

Alisson
Gomez Konate Van Dijk
Trent Szoboszlai Mac Allister Robertson
Salah Nunez Diaz

If everyone, other than Trent, was fit for a League winning fixture what 11 would you start with mate in that system?

Alisson
Gomez Konate van Dijk Robertson
Szoboszlai Mac Allister
Salah Gakpo Diaz
Nunez

Option to play Gravenberch instead of Mac Allister or Gakpo, or push Szoboslai into the 10 role.
Ideally, when all players are up to speed you play Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch in the "3"
but it changes depending on the phase where one sits when the team attacks and two go,
and two play deeper when out of possession. That would be more fluid and more likely what Klopp would play.

So on paper it would look like

Alisson
Trent Konate van Dijk Robertson
Szoboszlai Mac Allister Gravenberch
Salah Nunez Diaz

With Trent out, I'd actually like to see what a 3-box-3 would look like.

Alisson
Konate van Dijk Quansah
Endo Bajcetic
Szoboszlai Mac Allister
Salah Nunez Diaz