JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<nav>
    <ul class="pagination">   
        <li>
            <a href="#">
                1
                <p class="pagination-text">Lorem Ipsum</p>
            </a>
        </li>
        <li>
            <a href="#">
                2
                <p class="pagination-text">Lorem Ipsum</p>
            </a>
        </li>  
        <li>
            <a href="#">
                3
                <p class="pagination-text">Lorem Ipsum</p>
            </a>
        </li>
    </ul>
</nav>

CSS

*,*:after,*:before{
    box-sizing: border-box;
}
ul{
    margin: 0;
    padding: 0;
}
.pagination > li{
    overflow: hidden;
    position: relative;
    margin-top: 25px;
    width: 25%;
    float: left;
    list-style: none;
    padding: 0;
}
.pagination > li p{
    color: #000;
    line-height: 1;
}
.pagination > li > a{
    line-height: 50px;
    text-decoration: none;
    color: #000;
    display: block;
    text-align: center;
    position: relative;
}
/*positon the circle*/
.pagination > li > a:before{
    content:'';
    position: absolute;
    z-index: -1;
    width: 50px; height: 50px;
    left: 50%; margin-left: -25px;
    border-radius: 100%;
    border: 1px solid blue;
    transition: all .2s;
}

/*positioning the line*/
.pagination > li:not(:last-of-type):after,
.pagination > li:not(:first-of-type):before{
    content: '';
    position: absolute;
    background: blue;
    top: 25px;
    height: 1px;
}
.pagination > li:first-of-type:after{
    left: 50%;
    right: 0;
    margin-left: 25px;
}
.pagination > li:not(:first-of-type):before{
    left: 0;
    right: 50%;
    margin-right: 25px;    
}
.pagination > li:not(:first-of-type):after{
    right: 0;
    left: 50%;
    margin-left: 25px;
}

/*hover stuff*/
.pagination > li:hover a{
    color: #fff;
}
.pagination > li:hover a:before{
    background: blue;
}