Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino has acknowledged that there is interest in Virgil van Dijk but insists that the centre-back is fully focused on performing for the Saints.

Van Dijk was heavily linked with a move to Liverpool in one of the main transfer sagas of the summer window, but no deal materialised and the Dutch defender will make his first trip to Anfield since seeing his desired switch fall through when Southampton take on the Reds this Saturday.

It will also be a special occasion for Pellegrino, who spent time as a player and coach with Liverpool, but he insists that he is out to cause his former team "problems".

"It will be a nice experience for me. I had a really happy time in my career as a player and as a coach at Liverpool," the Argentine told reporters.

"But on Saturday it is a nice opportunity to represent Southampton, and we will try to play well, play a good game and create problems for Liverpool.

"Virgil is training well and thinking about our club. We cannot control the market and all the whispers. We have a lot of players who are important and most of the clubs in the world want a lot of our players . Virgil is one of those, but we have to be focused on our job."

Southampton currently sit 13th in the Premier League table, having only won three of their opening 11 games of the season.