Claude Puel believes his side could be better off playing against top six sides in the coming days as he battles to prop up his position as Saints boss.

The dismal goalless draw against Hull, and the reaction of the fans who started to turn against the under-fire French manager, has heaped more pressure on Puel.

Saints face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday before hosting Arsenal at St Mary’s a week tomorrow.

Given their record of failing to win against any of the Premier League’s top six in nine attempts this season, Puel could be forgiven for fearing the worst.

However, he thinks that facing bigger teams might actually help as his players will be up for the challenge of trying to thrive in the role of underdogs.

He said: “I think to play against these teams is natural and perhaps is more motivation.

“I am sure we can play a good game against Liverpool and other good teams.

“After this game (Hull) it is important to have a good reaction and a good answer.

“We are not happy after this game and it is important to have the good reaction.

“We can lose a game but with a good feeling we play good football and did all our possibilities and it was not enough to win this game.

“We need to accept and correct this.”

Saints do at least have some happy memories of Anfield this season.

They reached the EFL Cup final against all the odds as they defeated the Reds in their own backyard to book a slot at Wembley.

Saints also beat Arsenal at the Emirates in the previous round of the same competition, but their failure against the bigger teams in league action has been one of the major disappointments of the season.

Recent losses to Manchester City and Chelsea took Saints’ record against the big guns to seven defeats in nine matches.

The only two games in which they avoided defeat were both draws – a 1-1 against Manchester City and a goalless draw with Liverpool at St Mary’s.

Though getting results against Liverpool and Arsenal will be very tricky, Puel desperately needs them.

If things were to go badly then his position would be under even greater scrutiny with just a handful of matches left in the season.