Why Liverpool visit is special for Southampton boss Martin

His Norwich City side were infamously dismantled by the likes of Luis Suarez on more than their fair share of occasions. 

In nine appearances against Liverpool, including one with MK Dons, Martin's team conceded 27 goals in two draws and seven defeats. 

However, the September 2015 fixture which saw his second-half equaliser secure a point on Merseyside was one of the most significant days of his life. 

"My youngest, Leo, was born on that day," Martin explained. "I had to go back from Liverpool at midnight with the player liaison.

Russell Martin celebrates his goal at Anfield in September 2015 (Image: PA)

“I went straight to hospital and he was born at 9:30am, then I jumped straight on a plane with Delia (Smith) and the crew up to Liverpool.

“I tried to get some sleep but ended up in conversation with Delia about Leo and the arrival.

“There was then too much traffic so I had to run across Stanley Park and had Norwich fans looking at me like I was a complete weirdo."

He continued: “Then I realised how dizzy I was because I hadn’t eaten or slept, so Alex Neil asked if I’d got some sleep and I lied because I wanted to play.

“I scored and we managed to get a point – I’m not sure I ever got another point at Anfield – it was a really nice day and it is a nice story to tell Leo.

“Now he’ll be going to the place I was at on the day he was born," Martin said, with a smile. 

Martin often refers to his kids, of which he has two boys and a girl - on one occasion, his son even joined him for a post-match press conference. 

He added: “They absolutely love football and they are now begging me for shirts on Wednesday. They aren’t fussed who!"

It will be a family affair for Martin, whose uncle and one of his brothers are Liverpool fans on the usual day. 

"They’ll also be there," Martin, who has accepted he might get in trouble with his children's school for absences on Thursday, said. 

“My uncle said coming up to Anfield and seeing me score was one of the greatest days of his life even though he’s a Liverpool fan.

“It will be a great occasion for a lot of people, but it will only be a brilliant occasion if you do yourself justice and put in a performance to be proud of."

Russell Martin and Jurgen Klopp after an EFL Cup clash with MK Dons (Image: PA)

He continued: "I was fortunate to end up playing there as a player a few times, something I never thought I would do.

“I didn’t think I would manage anywhere but I was hopeful just as I’m hopeful of managing in the Premier League at some point.

“You can’t expect anything in football or take anything for granted. I was hopeful of playing in the Premier League when I was six years old and managed to somehow do it.

“I’ve also somehow managed to manage this football club and we’ll see how far we can go with the rest of it." 

On Wednesday, the narrative will instead be around Jurgen Klopp's kids - after his young Reds side beat Chelsea to the EFL Cup on Sunday. 

Midfielder James McConnell, 19, one of the academy players to come off the bench at Wembley, started against Saints under-21s in Premier League 2 this season. 

Martin has already confirmed he will make some changes too - Saints have competed in two more games than Liverpool this month.

But it could make it difficult to prepare for Klopp's side when there is very little information on who the team is likely to include. 

“We never focus too much on the opposition and which player is going to play where because it changes so much," Martin insists.

“You can end up wasting so much of your working time on the grass or in the video room focusing in certain things and then they don’t play.

“They have some really clear ways of doing things whoever plays – the way they hunt the ball, the way they build up – so we are aware of those.

“Whoever plays for Liverpool at that level, whatever ages they are, they are top," he added. 

“The way the young guys came on the pitch on Sunday and played like they were used to that stage. It was incredible.

“Whatever Liverpool team you play under this manager at Anfield won’t be easy. So I don’t think it matters at all.

Liverpool's young guns celebrate with Virgil Van Dijk at Wembley (Image: PA)

“They have guys who are desperate to make their career and play at Liverpool for as long as they possibly can and that hunger in these games is more important. 

“They are so desperate for an opportunity to play in front of that crowd, for the team they’ve grown up with. That adds its own energy and different dimensions." 

Klopp is targeting a historic quadruple - admittedly including the Europa League rather than the Champions League - in his final season. 

Manchester City might have already become the first English side to achieve the feat if it were not for a tricky Saints team set up by Nathan Jones. 

Goals from Sekou Mara and Moussa Djenepo knocked City out of the EFL Cup quarter-final before Pep Guardiola's side claimed all three remaining trophies.  

However - it does not serve as any motivation to Martin, stating: “It doesn’t get my juices flowing that we might stop Liverpool from winning a quadruple.

"It gets my juices flowing that we might go to Anfield and win - although it might be for Deano (Dean Thornton) the goalie coach as he’s a massive Everton fan."