Whisper this and don't tempt fate too much, but if Saints beat Newcastle United on the first Premier League game of the weekend, then they will top the league ! But there is a lot of hard work to do before that happens.

This season has seen the Premier League Big Six all seem to lose their way a bit, current leaders Liverpool may be top but they are not there as per a year ago looking unbeatable, their 7-2 defeat is testament to that. Not to mention the loss of Virgil Van Dijk for the season and other key injuries.

Manchester City have a game in hand but their first six games haven't been glorious with two draws and a loss in there and they have struggled when they have won as was shown in a narrow 1-0 win at Sheffield United.

Tottenham have picked up and are in second and will be looking to Gareth Bale to give them a title challenge this season, but they are far from the real deal or of the standard of the title winners of the last few seasons.

Chelsea are hovering and Manchester United are down in 15th place and it looks only a matter of time before another managerial change at Old Trafford and perhaps the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino.

The media have waxed lyrical about Everton, Wolves and even Leeds as well as recent favourites Leicester City, they were even tipping Saints for a relegation battle after defeats in the two opening games.

But slowly and surely Saints have come up the table under the radar and propelled themselves into 4th place in the standings, sadly we will drop to 5th this evening when Leicester play Leeds, those two late goals conceded at Villa could cost us dearly, if Leeds win they will go above us on goal difference, if Leicester win they will go above us by two points and although a draw would be the best result for Saints in many respects, it would still see Leicester above us on goal difference.

But I don't think there is a Saints fan alive who would not have been happy if told we would be 5th in the table after 7games at the start of the season.

But it could get even better, whatever the result tonight, Liverpool will still be top with 16 points and they have exactly the same goal difference as us, 2 goals for.

This means that a win by any scoreline will send us above them on goal difference, of course it will be only fleeting, you cannot see all of the within touching distance of that 16 point mark all losing over the weekend, but it would be a nice marker to have and a great statement of the progress we have made under Ralph Hasenhuttl

But we have to beat Newcastle first and they will be no pushover, they are 11th and in 11th place, but they will be looking to record a second win in 2020 at St Mary's one that would leapfrog them over us in the table.

This shows how condensed this season is, the three clubs at the bottom have only registered a point apiece, West Brom 3 points and then Brighton on 5, this will change slightly tonight as West Brom are at Fulham, but this season more than most is going to be different and not just because there are no crowds.

But it is what it is and for us that means a shot at topping the Premier League if only for a day, it won't necessarily make us title contenders, but it does show that we are making progress and with an addition or two to the squad could well re establish ourselves in the top 10 as we did a few seasons back.

Photo: Action Images

Dellwizard added 10:23 - Nov 2 It's also good news for any future takeover. Seeing us as a top 6-10 team rather than a relegation scrapper is a lot more attractive to any investor.
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wibbersda added 11:45 - Nov 2 Would this be the first time we have ever been top in the Prem?
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theralpholution added 12:01 - Nov 2 Unbelievable! How did Saints do that without a haggard centre-half from the championship.
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SanMarco added 13:31 - Nov 2 Glad you whispered it Nick - I am not superstitious but decades of Saints supporting leads me to caution on this one. I remember a home game against bottom of the table Brighton in (December??) 1981 when the inevitable victory was going to take us to the top of the table. We lost 2-0.
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SaintPaulVW added 14:08 - Nov 2 Getting there is the easy bit...lol COYR!
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DellBoyWally added 14:48 - Nov 2 Hope Badders back to partner Vesta, or (whisper it) may Salisu come in? Good news about Ingsy, with luck fit for Friday. The offence (sorry, that's baseball!) the attack looks so much sharper with Theo in for Redmond; and he works hard in defence too. (someone mentioned they were glad Redmond had been dropped to the bench. I'd prefer it if he were dropped to the Championship!)

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davepid added 15:56 - Nov 2 Of course we will go top ! No question. COYRs.
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underweststand added 16:22 - Nov 2 Of course we want a win and go top - even for a day..but IF---Danny Ings doesn't play , let's not forget that Theo Walcott has already over 100 goals to his credit and hasn't looked like a slouch in his two games so far. Would be interesting to see how he plays alongside Ché Adams. Longer term - IF we are still in the top 5 at New Year ..then I'd say that Ralph has found the right formula.....

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Jesus_02 added 10:16 - Nov 3 I don't think Ings will start and I would rather he was not rushed back at all. I think the midfield is working well and we need them to continue to ct of supply which I thought we have done excellently in the last 2 matches. So I think I would rather see Long come in to replace Ings work rate rather than displace Theo. Defence is my biggest worry I hope Bertrand is fit

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