Liverpool target Virgil Van Dijk will cope with Anfield trip says ex-Kop defender and coach Mauricio Pochettino
Saints manager had two spells on Merseyside as a player and a coach under Rafa Benitez and he needs a happy return to keep fans onside
VIRGIL VAN DIJK will have no problem handling the Anfield cauldron despite boss and ex-Liverpool ace Mauricio Pellegrino insisting it’s the toughest stadium to play in.
The Dutch centre-back was desperate to move to Merseyside – like his Argentine boss did in January 2005 – but Saints dug in and forced him to honour his contract.
Pellegrino has played and managed in fierce footballing hotbeds in Argentina as well as the Barcelona and Real Madrid derby.
But he insists his star defender is going into the most daunting atmosphere of all on Saturday when he tries to shut-out Jurgen Klopp’s free-flowing attack.
Pellegrino said: “I don’t think it will be difficult because Virgil knows he is focused 100 per cent on our team and is training well.
"He wants to improve his performances because obviously he was injured in March and then he didn’t play any games.
"Obviously we cannot control the market and every single transfer window clubs are looking to buy our players.
"But we are looking for players to try to improve our squad too. It’s part of our job. Football today is a big business – and we have to understand this.
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“Now clubs are fighting in the market to find the best player and we have a lot of good players – it’s part of our job.
"It’s no secret that sometimes players are distracted but it’s normal.
“Liverpool and Manchester United are the greatest grounds that I experienced in my life.
“In Scotland I was surprised about Celtic and Glasgow. When I played at Valencia the mood in the stadiums was really good.
"In Argentina our fans are really heavy and aggressive but I enjoy this.”
Pellegrino will be able to enjoy a Kop return if his side can keep Liverpool at bay and break their current habit of not scoring.
Rafa Benitez signed him in January 2005 and he made 12 Prem appearances and only missed out on Champions League glory as he was cup tied, before being re-signed as a coach for two years in 2008.
Pellegrino never wanted to leave Anfield but - if his plan to let Liverpool have the ball backfires - he might be making another swift and miserable exit on Saturday.
He said: “When I was a player I wanted to stay but I was a little bit old.
"I was 33 and came here to replace one position but Rafa Benitez told me he decided to bring in another player younger than me because his contract was long.
"He knew that I was at the end of my career.
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“Yes, its a special place for me. I have good memories of this club as a player and as a coach. I live in a lot of nice moments.
"It was a wonderful moment in my life but in this case I would like to win the game?
“I would like to try to continue how we are doing in the recent games.
"I know it will be difficult, tough, because they are a good side but maybe we will feel comfortable because I imagine they will attack.
"We are a team that are comfortable when we attack the ball, I think it will be up and down.
"Liverpool are good on the counter attack, but it’s a good possibility to see where we are.”
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Mauricio Pellegrino was speaking at Southampton’s Staplewood training ground as part of a media day organised by Virgin Media, the club's main sponsor