Saturday 21 February 2015 13:12, UK
Ronald Koeman became irritated by questions about Liverpool's ex-Southampton players ahead of the clubs' Super Sunday meeting.
Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren are likely to be back at St Mary's this weekend for the first time since all three left for Anfield during a fraught summer for Southampton.
Lallana this week said he regretted the manner of his departure and Koeman, who along with the board oversaw a major overhaul of the squad on his arrival, was repeatedly asked about the three at his pre-match press conference.
But the Dutchman preferred to focus on the race for European places, with his fourth-placed side four points and three places ahead of Liverpool.
"You're the agent of Lovren and Lallana?" he asked one reporter. "Why that kind of question all the time?
"I don't talk about players who are coming back to the club where they played last season, because then I can talk every week about a player who comes back to Southampton.
"Lallana is a very good player, doing well in Liverpool. He chose to change the club after a good opportunity and nothing else. It is Southampton against Liverpool, not Southampton against some players who played last season for Southampton.
"I am thinking of winning the game. I am not negative thinking. I'm surprised they have four points less than we have and to come closer to us they have to win. If they don't win, they don't come closer."
It is Southampton against Liverpool, not Southampton against some players who played last season for Southampton.
Koeman is still without another of last season's key players Jay Rodriguez, who has been out since damaging cruciate ligaments in April last year.
A March return has been mentioned, but the manager was cautious, saying: "It's a long way now for Jay and if it happens in March we are very happy. If it happens in April we will see but at the moment - not - because he needs more time."
"I hope that Jay can still play some games in this season, but it is all about the freshness and the shape of the player. We don't take any risk because the player is too good to take that risk.
"We know to handle injuries and problems because now I think for the first time I have players back after the last two or three months and that's good news."
Watch Southampton v Liverpool live on Sky Sports 1 on Sunday. Kick-off is at 4.15pm.
