Revenge for Southampton? Visit of Liverpool offers the chance to make a point in the Champions League race

Southampton were supposed to be in crisis when they travelled to Anfield on the opening weekend of the season but the return meeting with the club that bought three of their star players offers the chance to hammer home the message that the Saints go marching on…

“They have a choice as a club. They don't have to sell. You have a choice. Maybe Southampton's objectives have changed. They were looking to be a Champions League club, I believe. They obviously wanted to change. We were after a certain type of player that fits the profile and the mould of the way we play. They played in a similar mould to us, so the players understand the pressing, the intensity and the possession so, I don't have sympathy, no.”

Maybe Southampton's objectives have changed. They were looking to be a Champions League club, I believe.

Brendan Rodgers’ assessment of the situation was hardly controversial. It was a natural conclusion. The bigger fish feed off the little fish. But what happens when the fish bites back? Dejan Lovren sold to Liverpool for £20million? Sign Toby Alderweireld on loan from Atletico Madrid. Rickie Lambert sold to Liverpool for £4million? Sign Feyenoord's top scorer Graziano Pelle. When Adam Lallana made his way to Melwood, Dusan Tadic was ready to replace him.

Southampton’s summer of regeneration has placed them in the thick of a race for the Champions League positions. They boast a four-point lead over Liverpool going into Sunday’s game at St Mary’s and while the Reds are in good form, a home win would give Saints a seven-point advantage over their visitors with only a dozen games remaining. With Crystal Palace, Burnley and Hull the next three sides to visit St Mary’s, there is every chance of maintaining the lead well into the run-in.

That seemed a long way off going into the season amid talk of impending doom and what looked suspiciously like a fire sale rather than a coherent strategy. With the opening-weekend trip to Anfield coming before the closure of the summer transfer window, even Morgan Schneiderlin’s future at Southampton appeared in doubt. Jay Rodriguez was just hoping to recognise a friendly face once he’d recovered from his long-term injury.

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However, that game against Liverpool could perhaps be identified as the moment that feelings began to shift. A 2-1 defeat brought no points but nevertheless inspired some belief that the situation was anything but desperate. Southampton not only had something resembling a team shape but were actually the more fluent of the two teams. Those attracted to the contest through morbid curiosity, expecting a rabble, were left disappointed.

Instead they were greeted by an organised and motivated outfit. Moreover, one that had won five of their six pre-season games, conceding only two goals in the process - one in a 3-1 victory at Brighton and the other against Bayer Leverkusen. In the match itself, Daniel Sturridge scored a barely-deserved winner for Liverpool with Simon Mignolet having to tip Schneiderlin’s late effort onto the crossbar to deny Southampton a point.

“We were obviously not anywhere near our usual fluency in the game,” said Rodgers. Saints boss Ronald Koeman was rather more encouraged. “We had a lot of changes in the team but we brought in quality players,” he told Sky Sports afterwards. “The rumours were that we would be worse than last season but I don't agree with that. The performance was very good and it gives the boys a lot of confidence.”

Koeman’s men took that confidence into the season, winning eight out of their next 10 games to climb up to second in the table. As for Liverpool, Lambert has managed only three goals in 26 appearances in all competitions - that’s nine fewer than his replacement Pelle. While Lallana has been an understated success with three assists, his successor Dusan Tadic has created more goals (7) than any Liverpool player.

Lovren encapsulates the phenomenon. According to Opta, he has made more errors leading to shots than any other player in the country. The only ex-Southampton player to start against his old club that day in August, his struggles tell the tale of Liverpool’s season. The Reds lost the last four Premier League games he started but went on a nine-game unbeaten run in the league following his axing. Meanwhile, Alderweireld has gone through the campaign error free.

As a result, at least two of the three players who made the move from Southampton to Liverpool in the summer will find themselves on the bench on their return to their former club. “The guys have come here because of the status of Liverpool and Champions League football,” said Rodgers at the time of their signing. Liverpool’s status cannot be denied. But the Champions League football could yet be heading to St Mary’s next season if Koeman can fashion a victory on Sunday.

Watch Southampton v Liverpool live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 4pm on Super Sunday