Former Southampton boss Claude Puel says Virgil van Dijk was a very different player to what we see now with Liverpool.

Puel worked with Van Dijk as Saints manager before his departure for the Reds.

He recalled to The Sun: “I am a manager. I like to work with a player. All the time, players can develop and get better, and it was the same thing with Van Dijk.

“He was not a modern player. He played at the beginning at Southampton sometimes like an older player, without moving, without pushing the team high up the pitch.

“Without making the covers for the full-backs, not wanting to pass the ball out or dribble out of his area. He needed to make the progress like a modern centre back.

“It was important to develop him, and it was the same with Maguire, helping him on the ball, with his anticipation and positioning to read the run of the attacker.

“It was the same with Fofana, Saliba. It is important to work with these players, not just for the moment but it will be better for them in the future too."