Saints fans will perhaps start to understand what has been going on behind the scenes over the past five months as Claude Puel cryptically confirms that his Captain will not be at the helm when most needed.
Jose Fonte was happy at Southampton Football Club a year ago when he had signed a new deal, but he changed his agent and apparently has changed his attitude and despite the fact that he will be expecting to see a very large amount of money from Southampton FC land in his bank account this week and indeed every week, he is not going to lead the side in it's most important game of the season.
Claude Pule confirmed in a statement.
"Jose won't participate for this game.
"We will see for the next game. It is important to keep stability.
"We do not know the future of Jose, it is a difficult situation in the market. I respect Jose, it is not an easy situation for the staff or players. It is difficult."
"We will see (about including him in the future), I do not comment on the possibility (of him moving). I think it is important to respect the other players.
"It is an opportunity also for Jose to view different opportunities and it is important to respect this.
"For me, it is important to keep stability in defence first, and second, we will see what the situation of Jose in this market is.
"If Jose came to leave the club, it is normal for us to look at other opportunities (to buy players to replace him)."
"It is important for us to remain open in the market and look at other opportunities, we do not know about other opportunities yet, it is difficult for the club to improve the squad this month."
The message though from Puel is clear, he does not feel that Fonte can lead the club against Liverpool, the reason for that is unclear, although it insinuates that the player himself does not wish to play or is not focused enough to do so.
This leaves a nasty taste in the mouth, Saints have been good for Jose Fonte over the past 7 years and Fonte has been good for Saints, yes he might be unhappy that he did not get the move he wanted, when he wanted, but he should have been professional enough and had enough respect for not only the football club who have made him a very rich man, but his team mates and of course the supporters to have put his grievances aside to put in a big performance in a very important match.
Let us be clear on this, this is not about the manager or the rotation policy, this is about the fact that the club when presented with the players wish to leave with only a week or so to the start of the season held firm and refused to sell the player till they had a replacement lined up and that was not possible in August.
Thos who accuse the club of caving in every time they get a good offer for a player should consider that the £8 million mooted was a great fee for a player who is now 33, but they could not get a quality replacement in so stood firm.
Those who demand that Saints should have done that in the past three summers should consider that when players don't get their own way they don't always behave like professionals and honour their contracts.
Perhaps Fonte is aggrieved but he has let himself down as well as the club, his team mates and the supporters.