Claude Puel’s Southampton host Tottenham on Wednesday in the first of two matches to conclude their 2016.

The Saints dropped to eighth as a result of the Boxing Day results, but they know that victory over Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs at St Mary’s will send them back above Everton into seventh, and six points behind Manchester United in sixth.

Puel’s side go into Wednesday’s encounter against their former boss having won three of their last five Premier League matches, the latest of which was a 3-1 success over South Coast rivals Bournemouth on December 18.

The Saints have won six of their 17 league matches so far this season, but have only lost five times, of which only one was at St Mary’s when league leaders Chelsea won 2-0 back in October.

Puel is looking to lead Southampton to a fourth consecutive top half finish in the Premier League, and would love to at least match last season’s sixth place come May.

In what has been a fine year for the Saints, which has seen them return to Europe for the first time in 12 years and reach the last four of the League Cup, we thought we’d take a look back and review their year by selecting their top THREE matches of 2016…

Southampton 3-2 Liverpool (March 20)

The Saints may have beaten Manchester United, Manchester City, and Tottenham this year, but their performance against Liverpool back in March trumps the lot.

They found themselves 2-0 down at half-time thanks to goals from Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge and, when Sadio Mane, now of Liverpool, missed a penalty minutes into the second half, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it wasn’t going to be Southampton’s day.

However, Mane pulled one back after 64 minutes, and then Graziano Pelle’s excellent strike levelled up proceedings seven minutes from time.

But it was the hosts who went on to clinch all three points when Mane, who Liverpool paid £34 million for in the summer, slotted past Simon Mignolet four minutes from the end.

It was a sensational effort from Southampton, who moved up to seventh as a result of the victory.

Southampton 2-1 Inter Milan (November 3)

One of the best night’s in Southampton’s history took place at the start of November, as Puel’s men beat European giants Inter Milan 2-1 at St Mary’s.

The Saints knew that victory over the Italian side would give them a real chance of qualification for the last 32, yet they fell behind 12 minutes before half time when Mauro Icardi fired home.

However, it only seemed to spur the home side on, with the brilliant Virgil van Dijk equalising midway through the second half, before Dusan Tadic’s testing cross was turned into the Inter net by the unfortunate Yuto Nagatomo a few minutes later.

It secured a sensational victory for the Saints, who six years ago won the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy against Carlisle United at Wembley, two months before Jose Mourinho led Inter to the Champions League title.

It was a great win on a memorable evening for Southampton.

Arsenal 0-2 Southampton (November 30)

They may have beaten Manchester United in the league back in January, as well as the likes of Manchester City and Tottenham, but Southampton went to Arsenal in the League Cup trying to beat a side who had lost just once all season prior to their quarter-final clash.

And the performance Puel’s side produced was nothing short of phenomenal.

They comfortably defeated Arsene Wenger’s side 2-0 at the Emirates, with first half goals from Jordy Clasie and Ryan Bertrand enough to see off the Gunners.

The whole display was excellent, and it ended Arsenal’s 19-match unbeaten run in all competitions, which dated back to their opening weekend loss against Liverpool.

It means that Puel’s men have a chance to reach their second ever League Cup final when they take on Liverpool in the last four next month.