Ronald Koeman has earned an impressive reputation when it comes to rebuilding squads, having become accustomed to losing players to bigger clubs during his time managing in the Eredivisie, but it is at Southampton where his most impressive project yet has come to the fore.

Bizarre exchange

It also takes a lot for him to get riled. The manager was more agitated than any other time since taking the reins at St Mary’s during a bizarre exchange with a TV reporter about the trio of Southampton players who departed for

Liverpool

in the summer.

Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren will make their first trip back to the south coast on Sunday afternoon and Lallana has already spoken of how his departure has left a sour taste among the Saints' support.

However, Koeman says he relished the challenge of rebuilding a team and accepts that since Southampton cannot financially compete with other clubs he has to reconstruct his squad.

“It was a nice challenge for me,” he said. “In Holland you have to rebuild every season, it is always a new team. You lose a lot of players to bigger clubs and I knew that at Southampton we had a very good academy. Looking back through the season, five or six under-21s have already made their debut. That’s the best part about the philosophy here.

“We know our position at this club. When clubs like Liverpool and those kind of teams [come in for a player], it is always difficult to keep them. We know that but it’s not a problem. It is a part of football and always happens. It is up to us how we bring in new players and continue what we would like to do.”

Koeman was not in the mood to broach the subject of those who have left for pastures new and was more eager to discuss his own team in advance of a game which could go a long way to deciding Southampton’s push for European football next season.

“Maybe they should give every Liverpool player a good whistle and support the home team, which is the most important thing,” Koeman said in response to a question of how he expects fans to react to the return of their former players.

When Southampton were defeated at Anfield on the opening weekend of the season, few would have foreseen what was to transpire under the Dutchman.

Off course

Now it is Southampton who are the favourites for this weekend’s meeting, although Koeman admits he will not be thrown too far off course if they are defeated by Brendan Rodgers’s team, who will cut the deficit to their rivals to a single point.

“Do you think I’m thinking about losing a game? No way,” Koeman said. “I’m thinking about winning the game, I’m not negative. I’m surprised they have four points less than we have and to come closer they have to win.” Guardian Service