Ranked: A look back at Liverpool’s greatest Southampton signings ahead of Carabao Cup clash
Liverpool constructed a healthy relationship with Southampton for many years as they turned exciting prodigies into dependable favourites at Anfield.
The Reds enjoyed a blockbuster summer 2025 transfer window after spending £446million (Sky Sports).
This included Liverpool bringing in Alexander Isak from Newcastle for a British transfer record fee of £125m.
However, fellow striker signing Hugo Ekitike and Isak will not play together at Liverpool on a frequent basis, yet it is just another example of the club’s masterful transfer strategy over the years.
Football Insider looks back on the current Premier League champions top seven best signings from the Saints over the years.
7. Rickie Lambert – summer 2014 (£4.5m)
Let go by his boyhood club at 15, Rickie Lambert returned in June 2014 after a superb stint with the south coast side.
The forward endured a nightmarish spell with the Reds, mustering just two goals in 25 league appearances in what was an unenjoyable comeback to Anfield.
The Englishman managed just one season on Merseyside before leaving for West Brom at the end of the 2014-15 campaign.
6. Nathaniel Clyne – summer 2015 (£12.5m)
The Reds continued with their raid of Southampton for their stars as they brought in Nathaniel Clyne to fix the right-back dilemma.
Playing 77 times for Liverpool, the Englishman became one of the first names on the teamsheet and a reliable defender.
In the latter stages of his career on Merseyside, the former Crystal Palace academy product joined Bournemouth on a short-term loan in January 2019 before leaving Anfield at the end of the 2019-20 season following injury struggles.
5. Peter Crouch – summer 2005 (£7m)
Former Tottenham sensation Peter Crouch had bounced around multiple clubs before departing from St Mary’s to join Liverpool.
The England international spent three seasons at Anfield where he notched 22 goals and 12 assists in 85 league appearances despite starting off his career with a four-month goal drought.
The ex-Stoke City frontman was beloved by the Reds faithful and won an FA Cup and a Community Shield during his time with the club.
4. Adam Lallana – summer 2014 (£25m)
Reverting back to the 24-month flurry of activity between the Reds and Southampton, the midfield maestro left for Anfield the same summer as Lambert.
The number 20 spent five seasons on Merseyside and racked up 18 goals and 17 assists in 128 league appearances.
The ex-Saints captain won various trophies during his time with Liverpool by winning the Champions League in 2018-19 and the Premier League in 2019-20.
3. Dejan Lovren – summer 2016 (£20m)
Following Jurgen Klopp’s first season in charge, Dejan Lovren became one of his new additions during the summer of 2016.
The Croatian achieved great success at the club, becoming a mainstay in the Liverpool defence by playing 131 times and scoring five goals.
The centre-back lifted the Premier League in 2019-20 which backed up 2018-19 Champions League glory after falling short in the 2017-18 final.
2. Sadio Mane – summer 2016 (£36m)
Lovren swapped the south coast for the north-west with the sensational Sadio Mane who impressed during his two years at St Mary’s.
The Senegal international was known for his dynamic dribbling and outrageous pace which quickly earned him admirers from across the league.
The Reds swooped in for the former RB Salzburg winger who quickly became one of Klopp’s most trusted attackers in a devastating front three alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
In his six seasons with Liverpool Mane netted 120 times in 269 appearances in all competitions, picking up 38 assists along the way.
Later moving to Bayern Munich, the Senegalese won one of each of the major domestic honours as well as winning the highly coveted Champions League on two separate occasions in 2018-19 and 2021-22.
1. Virgil van Dijk – January 2018 (£75m)
Until Harry Maguire and Josko Gvardiol bested his enormous transfer fee, Virgil van Dijk was the most expensive defender in the world when he left Southampton.
The Dutchman had previously wanted to leave the Saints in the summer of 2017 but was denied a move after Liverpool’s approach was deemed improper.
The astute club captain eventually joined in January 2018 and went on to become arguably one of the best defenders the footballing world has ever seen.
The number four is in his eighth season at Anfield and already has a stacked trophy cabinet with two Premier Leagues, three EFL Cups, one FA Cup and two Champion Leagues.
As of 23 September, Van Dijk has played 326 matches in all competitions, netting 29 times and is one of the greatest players the Kop have ever witnessed.