???️ Van Dijk set to face Liverpool and he’s ???100% focused’??? for now

It was one of the big transfer sagas of recent history. Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool was on and off more times than underwear on a Sheil Road sex worker. It went from the man himself stating he wanted to join Liverpool, causing LFC fans to lose their collective minds, to the club publicly apologising to Saints after being accused of tapping the towering centre half up (in Blackpool of all places – just picture him and Jurgen at the top of the tower scraning hot donuts). The transfer seemed to be back on when other sides pursuit of the defender failed to materialise. Ultimately it all came down to rumours and media agendas to keep consumers interested on deadline day, as Liverpool passed up on making another offer. Several players have made the switch from South Coast red and white to North West red and white in recent seasons, and maybe Southampton were done with selling us players. The fact Liverpool apologised for tapping up makes it obvious they were up to no good. It’s clear the tall Dutchman would have improved the defence. Not solved the crisis, just improved. It could still be on the cards in January, but it’s not at the forefront of anybody’s mind just yet. According to his current boss, VVD will show us his quality as the Reds host a side managed by an ex-player. Mauricio Pellegrino, who made 12 appearances for Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool, will return to Anfield for the first time as a manager with Southampton, and claims van Dijk will be fully focused on helping his team come away with three points. Speaking at a media day organised by their club sponsor Virgin Media, Pellegrino said, “I do not think it will be difficult because Virgil knows he is focused 100 per cent on our team and is training well”. However, he did also state that he ???cannot control the market’, adding that ???clubs are looking to buy our players’, which will be enough to kick start the rumour’s all over again. Pellegrino saved space for some nice words about his former employers, adding, “I have good memories of this club as a player and as a coach. It was a wonderful moment in my life but in this case, I would like to win the game”. It’s nice to hear a former player speak highly of your club. It’d be even nicer if he helped us sign van Dijk in January. We’ll see what van Dijk is 100% focused on whether it’s performing for Southampton or creating a long awaiting move to Liverpool on Saturday. Article by David Brindle