Saturday will be the 18th time Jurgen Klopp has taken on Southampton as Liverpool manager and the German may be thankful to the Saints for the part they played in the Reds success in recent years.
The two clubs have been closely entwined in recent history with Liverpool signing six players from Southampton and some dramatic moments on the field. Indeed, ex-Saint boss Ralph Hassenhuttl even broke down in tears after one particular game.
Southampton and Liverpool seemed to have a good relationship when the transfers between the clubs became more frequent in 2014. Three Southampton players headed to Anfield that summer, with Rickie Lambert joining his boyhood club for £4.5m, Adam Lallana joining the Reds for £25m and then Dejan Lovren earmarked as the man to transform Brendan Rodgers' fragile backline when he headed to Anfield in a £20m deal.
And it seemed that Southampton had got the better of the Reds when Lambert departed Liverpool just one season later, Lallana failed to show consistency and an error prone Lovren only contributed to Rodgers' defensive woes.
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That didn't stop Liverpool from returning a year later to sign full-back Nathaniel Clyne for £12.5m.
Even when Rodgers was dismissed and Klopp took charge of the Reds, their first major signing under the German was the acquisition of Sadio Mane in summer 2016. And it was at this point that Liverpool's preference for shopping on the South Coast was starting to become a big talking point among fans and perhaps the dynamic of the two clubs really started to change.
Having missed out on Mario Gotze and with former Klopp favourite Henrikh Mkhitaryan moving to Manchester United the same summer, Liverpool were actually ridiculed in some quarters for returning for another of Southampton's star players in Mane.
And when Southampton received an initial £34m for the Senegal attacker many - including some at the Saints - thought they'd got the better end of the deal. Mane had fallen out with Ronald Koeman at St Mary's, even turning up late for a match against his future employers.
But a brilliant maiden campaign with the Reds saw perceptions shift again and Southampton weren't so willing to do business when Liverpool came knocking for another of their star players a year later.
A strong relationship between Michael Edwards and his equivalents broke down when the pursuit certain defender turned proceedings sour for the south coast side and a formal apology was issued by the Reds.
The summer of 2017 was a stressful one for every one connected to Liverpool as a centre back was targeted, but not just any centre back would do for Edwards and Klopp. Liverpool wanted Virgil van Dijk. The Southampton man was the subject of interest from Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United, but Liverpool were thought to be leading the race from the outset.
Former Saints director Les Reed bluntly stated to Sky Sports in June 2017: "None of those players are for sale. I can't make it any plainer than that and that's the way we mean to go forward." But this didn't deter Liverpool and Klopp.
Then came the dreaded news for all Reds fans as an apology was issued after Southampton reported Liverpool to the Premier League or an alleged illegal approach made to the defender, with rumours Klopp met Van Dijk in a Blackpool hotel to convince him to move to Anfield.
The Saints were left furious after reports emerged that Van Dijk had informed Liverpool that he'd chosen them ahead of interest from Man City, with the Reds ready to break the world record transfer fee for a defender.
It led to Liverpool publicly withdrawing from the race to sign the defender with a statement on their website reading: "We apologise to the owner, board of directors and fans of Southampton for any misunderstanding regarding Virgil van Dijk. We respect Southampton's position and can confirm we have ended any interest in the player."
Klopp's Van Dijk dream seemed to be over and no new defender was signed that summer, much to the anger of fans. Liverpool's defence struggled massively and an embarrassing 4-1 loss at Tottenham Hotspur soon followed with a miserable display from Lovren in the heart of the defence, so much so he was subbed off before the half-time whistle.
Little did supporters know that behind the scenes, Liverpool were busy building bridges with Southampton and whatever had passed between Van Dijk and the Reds that summer had clearly convinced the Dutchman that Anfield was the right move for him for his career.
In a recent podcast with Gary Neville, Van Dijk lifted the lid on how he was convinced to join the club by Klopp, saying: "The reason I chose Liverpool is I really wanted to play for a club that lives and breathes football, and also the project. In the end when I spoke to Jurgen Klopp, the message was also what he wants from me and what he wants from me in the future was something that made me even more hungry to come here.
“I think everyone from the outside world felt there were a couple of pieces missing towards the success that Liverpool could have again. It’s never guaranteed but he saw that I was definitely a piece to the puzzle.
“As were the others we got in the summer, for example Alisson and Fabinho. The importance he put in me and me I was going to be was definitely a big boost. ‘We want to get you or we don’t get anyone.’ That was a big message for me.”
Liverpool subsequently announced Van Dijk's signing two days after Christmas - and two days after reports that Man City had won the race for him - after secret negotiations and a commitment to pay £75m for the defender.
“Delighted and honoured to have agreed to become a Liverpool player,” said Van Dijk. “Today is a proud day for me and my family as I join one of the biggest clubs in world football. I can’t wait to pull on the famous red shirt for the first time in front of the Kop and will give everything I have to try and help this great club achieve something special.”
With relations now strong between the two clubs, Liverpool would loan Danny Ings to Southampton in 2019, before banking £20m for the attacker a year later.
And with the Reds taking on Southampton on Saturday at Anfield in the last match before the break for the World Cup, it's worth noting these two sides have been involved in some memorable and important clashes in recent years - especially for Liverpool.
Mane scored late at Anfield to earn Southampton a point in just Klopp's third match as Liverpool boss, before getting himself sent off four minutes later. Although a Man of the Match display from Van Dijk may have left an impression on the John Henry and Tom Werner, watching from the stands.
It was a different story weeks later when Southampton were soundly thrashed 5-1 by a much-changed Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, Divock Origi scoring a hat-trick to remind his new boss what he could do.
But despite a similarly fast start in the next fixture, in March 2016, Mane would score twice again as Southampton turned a 2-0 deficit on its head to win 3-2 at St Mary's - leaving Klopp angry and frustrated while Koeman danced down the touchline in celebration of the dramatic victory.
The Saints would inflict more misery on Liverpool the following season, with 1-0 wins in each leg of the League Cup semi-final preventing Klopp's side from reaching successive finals of the competition, but, after a 0-0 draw the following May, Liverpool would put together six successive victories against the Saints.
Friday, April 5, 2019 saw Liverpool come away with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Southampton to keep their Premier League title chase very much alive. Two goals in the last 10 minutes sealed the three points for the Reds as they pushed Manchester City all the way to the final day.
Just months on from losing out on the title by a point, Liverpool were back at St. Mary's on Saturday, August 17 and travelled back north with a 2-1 win - three points that would go towards the Reds' title win at the end of that season.
The Reds are now on a three match winning streak over Saturday's opponents, but Southampton's last victory reduced Hassenhuttl to tears on the touchline after finally getting one over on his idol Klopp.
The Austrian may not be on the touchline come Saturday, but one thing is for sure, both sides come into this game knowing a win is vital for them once the Premier League resumes deep in December.
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