Ranking Liverpool's 6 signings from Southampton over past 4 years

Despite the divergent paths of the two clubs, Liverpool and Southampton have become inextricably linked through a number of players who decided to swap the serenity of the south coast for life on the River Mersey.

In the last four years, six Saints players have made the move north, and with Southampton paying Anfield a visit on Saturday, a few of them could feature against their former side.

With that in mind, here's a ranking of the six former Saints to make the Liverpool pilgrimage since the summer of 2014:

6) Rickie Lambert

Transfer date: June 2014

Transfer fee: £4 million

The recently retired lumbering striker returned to Liverpool nearly 20 years after failing to make the cut with the club's youth setup, and from the off, local boy Lambert clashed with Brendan Rodgers' system. Following three goals in 36 matches in all competitions, Lambert was shipped to West Brom for a £3-million fee. Decent, if not an unobtrusive bit of business.

5) Nathaniel Clyne

Transfer date: July 2015

Transfer fee: £12.5 million

From first-choice right-back to an afterthought, Clyne, 27, was consistent enough for the Reds in his first season to earn a spot in England's Euro 2016 squad. After starting all but one of Liverpool's league outings during the 2016-17 season, it all went pear-shaped for the defender, with a serious back injury affording only 184 minutes of first-team football over the last two years.

4) Adam Lallana

Transfer date: July 2014

Transfer fee: £25 million

One of the players to benefit most from Jurgen Klopp's tactical ethos, Lallana moved to Liverpool and immediately became a versatile part of the German gaffer's plans as a solid two-way force. Like with Clyne, injuries have relegated Lallana to a fringe role at the club, limiting the 30-year-old to one league start last season and a three-minute run-out this year against Crystal Palace.

3) Dejan Lovren

Transfer date: July 2014

Transfer fee: £20 million

The final of three Saints to make the Liverpool switch in summer 2014, World Cup finalist Lovren was lured to Anfield to help fill the void from Jamie Carragher's retirement. Early stumbling blocks eventually yielded decent returns, and while Lovren is still error-prone, the 29-year-old has greatly benefited from pairing with another former Southampton defender.

2) Virgil van Dijk

Transfer date: January 2017

Transfer fee: £75 million

Liverpool's advantageous relationship with Southampton took a hit after the Reds' prolonged interest in Van Dijk saw the Dutchman exiled to solo training before securing a world-record move. An aerial wizard and vocal leader, Van Dijk's influence was immediate, solidifying a worrying back-four while vastly improving Lovren's play. He is arguably the league's best center-back.

1) Sadio Mane

Transfer date: June 2016

Transfer fee: £34 million

The catalyst for Liverpool's European success last season and just the fourth player to bag a treble for the club on the continent, Mane has become a perfect compliment to Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, forming the highest scoring trio in a single Champions League campaign. The Senegalese star has registered 27 league goals since making the Anfield switch. He also sent Neymar for a hot dog last week. Nasty stuff that.