THE summer rivalry between Southampton and Liverpool has taken a fresh twist.

As the two teams face off in their first league game of the season this afternoon, there is plenty of tension expected between the fans after Liverpool signed three Saints first team players – including captain Adam Lallana and talisman striker Rickie Lambert.

And now bookmakers Paddy Power have thrown more fuel on the fire by erecting a billboard at Liverpool Lime Street station welcoming travelling Saints fans with the message “Liverpool welcomes their feeder club” and picturing all three players.

A spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “It’s always nice to see a few familiar faces after a long journey and, after the ransacking that Southampton witnessed this summer, some of the fans won’t have seen these mugs around St Mary’s in a long while.”

Centre back Dejan Lovren was the other Saint to leave for Anfield this summer and is the only player to start against his former teammates today, with Lambert on the bench.