1. we have 36 million reasons to sell him especially as he won't play for a while after Christmas and walk for a lot less money next season.
2. that's called negotiating Liverpool came out with 25 million in the press we came out with 40 million and we met some where in the middle
3. You'd be happier if we had strung out all summer for a couple of extra million and then rushed to find a replacement like Villa with Benteke last summer?
4. We sold him to the only team that wanted him and the team he wanted to play for. We finished above Liverpool for one season since getting back to the PL lets not try and make out we are now rival clubs (other than in the sense we both play in the PL)
The fight wasn't with Liverpool it was with Mane to convince him to stay. We offered him the biggest contract in saints history and still said no thanks at that point there is little point in fighting anymore better to move on and bring players who want to be at the club.