Red-letter days for Saints

Virgil van Dijk’s £75million (€84m) move from Southampton to Liverpool is the sixth transfer between the clubs in the last three and a half years.

Rickie Lambert

(£4m, June 2014)

The big striker never suited Brendan Rodgers’s system. While his story of returning to a club which released him as a youngster was heartwarming, only three goals in 36 matches underlined the mistake. Sold to West Brom in 2015 for £3m, he has recently retired.

Adam Lallana (£25m, July 2014) The England international’s acrimonious departure from Saints did not help his settling-in process and an injury in pre-season delayed his debut. But under Jurgen Klopp he has shown the form that has made him one of the stand-out midfielders in the Premier League. His current campaign has been blighted by injury, however.

Dejan Lovren (£20m, July 2014) The centre-back was brought in to provide some leadership following the retirement of stalwart Jamie Carragher but the Croatia international initially struggled with the responsibility. His form at the start was patchy, but, although a gaffe never seems far away, he has

improved markedly.

Nathaniel Clyne (£12.5m, July 2015)

Arrived as firstchoice right-back and produced consistent performances in his maiden season which took him into the England squad for Euro 2016. Backed that up last season but suffered a back injury in the summer and has yet to play this time around.

Sadio Mane (£34m, June 2016) The Senegal international proved to be money spent well as he enjoyed a fine start to life at Anfield, so much so that his departure to the African Cup of Nations was blamed for Liverpool’s January blip. He ended the campaign with 13 league goals in 27 appearances and has followed that up this season by becoming one of the feared ‘Fab Four’.