Saints are closing in on a potential Europa League spot.

With just five games remaining in the season there is a very real chance that Mauricio Pochettino’s men could qualify for European competition via the Fair Play League.

Saints currently sit fifth in the Premier League’s Fair Play table.

But, significantly, three of the teams above them – Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United – look likely to qualify for Europe via the league, meaning they would not use any potential Fair Play spot.

The only other side above Saints is Liverpool.

In a major boost to Saints’ chances, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has indicated his side would almost certainly turn down the Fair Play place if offered it.

That is because early qualification rounds for the Europa League would clash with their tour of the Far East and impact on his long term plans.

European football’s governing body, UEFA, hands three nations an extra Europa League place each season to give its domestic top-division fair play competition winner.

UEFA’s decision is based on its own league table of Fair Play amongst its member nations.

The last official UEFA table had England in fourth place, but widely expected to rise.

Saints have been incredibly well behaved since their return to the top flight.

Indeed, if the Fair Play League in this country was scored on the basis of red and yellow cards alone, Saints would be comfortably top.

They are one of only three sides not to have received a red card this season – Manchester United and Sunderland being the others.

They have also picked up fewer yellow cards than any other team, totalling just 38 over the course of the season.

However, the table is also based on marks handed out by an assessor at each top flight game.

They also score criteria based on positive play, respect towards opponents, respect towards referees, behaviour of team officials and behaviour of the public.

Similarly, the UEFA Respect Fair Play assessments are made by the official UEFA delegates, based on very similar criteria.

Fulham were the last English team to bag a bonus European spot as they qualified via the Fair Play League for the 2011 Europa League competition.

The comments from Liverpool could prove significant for Saints.

When asked about the possibility of qualifying via the Fair Play League, Rodgers said: “Maybe we should get a couple of sendings-off or bookings. I’ve never really thought about the Fair Play route.

“We want to get into it with our performance level and in any case it’s highly unlikely we’d get that Fair Play route.

“It’s the top three countries and England are fourth.

“It is not something I would be keen on. I want to get there through the right means.

“If we have to have a year where we are not in it, it’s going to give us an opportunity to push on.”