Jimmy Case is adamant Saints could finish in the top six this season – and that their great start has been an example to Liverpool.

The Saints and Anfield legend, who has just published his autobiography, Hard Case, is employed to summarise games for BBC Radio Merseyside, as well as working for the Reds on matchdays.

It means he has had a good look at how Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren have settled into life on Merseyside since their summer moves from Saints, and also how Ronald Koeman’s men have fared.

Much of the talk at Liverpool has been over the time required to gel a new squad together after Brendan Rodgers went on a spending spree following the sale of Luis Suarez.

Case, however, insists Saints have shown what can be done.

“Up at Liverpool they say they’ve got a few new players in and so they need to settle down,” said the ex-midfield star.

“But I dispel that because I point the finger back at them, and say ‘not everybody does and you can hit the ground running as Southampton have’.

“They’ve got their act together despite changing manager and so many players.

“I point to them as to what can be achieved.

“The likes of Sammy Lee down there and Koeman have got it spot on.”

Even more encouragingly for Saints, Case does not agree with the theory that the established top seven will be there again come the end of the season.

While acknowledging they will have to come through some tough times to achieve it, to Case there is no reason why Saints cannot make this a breakthrough campaign.

“There’s no reason why they can’t,” he insisted.

“The difference is that in past years they have got money in and you’ve never seen it (spent), but at least they are having a go at building a squad to last the season.

“There will be times when there are injuries, but the manager is being allowed to get a squad together.

“It’s like Liverpool, where Suarez has gone but they have spent the money on the pitch.

“Southampton have got the stadium, but they’ve got to do well to keep people coming in and filling it.

“There’s no reason why they can’t (break the top six).

“You look at so many other clubs in trouble financially.

“Of course you have got to get it right on the pitch, which they have at the moment, and also off the pitch.

“The big thing now is that the lads themselves will know they can perform at that level, they are up there at this very minute.

“They’ve got big games coming up and it’s how that situation goes, but they have shown to themselves what they can do.”

There has been a slight sense of satisfaction at Saints that Koeman’s side, despite losing at Anfield on the opening day of the season, have thus far outperformed a club that bought three of their star players in the summer.

Lambert, Lallana and Lovren have all endured a tough start to life at Liverpool, but Case has seen signs that things are starting to improve for the trio.

“It has been a bit of a mixed bag for all three of them,” admitted Case.

“It is quite difficult to play at Anfield, no matter where you’ve come from.

“Adam Lallana at the beginning wasn’t that fit and Rickie Lambert too because of the World Cup. Steven Gerrard was the same.

“I am not making excuses for them, just pointing out how they’re performing.

“Rickie has been trying his heart out, but sometimes it just doesn’t go for you, “Lallana, the last league games has been Liverpool’s best player. Everyone at Southampton knows his quality and the team is gelling a bit now.

“Dejan Lovren found it difficult. One game he was alongside Skrtel, the next with Sakho – who is a bag of nerves – then there was a new right back and a left back.

“The back four and the goalkeeper were all over the place because they hadn’t played with each other, but they have got better and he (Lovren) has got more consistent.

“Rickie brings others into play but you know when somebody needs a lift, needs a goal.

“He was taken off against West Brom (last weekend) and was given a standing ovation.

“He hadn’t played that well in the first half and had done better in the second half, but the fans knew how hard he was trying and so they will stick by you.

“It was a good reminder to Balotelli as well that he’s not safe.”

Of the three, Case seems to be most excited about the prospect of seeing Lallana grow into a Liverpool player.

Lallana is a player that Case has long admired and he believes he will thrive at Anfield.

“Adam Lallana is going to go on and on,” reckoned Case. “You could see the relief for him over playing well in one game.

“I have always liked the way he played, even when Saints were in the lower divisions. He’s so silky.

“He will go on.

“He’s at a nice age, he’s got that experience.

“It’s hard to play at Anfield but he’s been man of the match basically for the last three games.

“The more you play like that the more you play with no fear and know that the crowd are with you. Then you try things that are more ambitious and end up with a purple patch where you play well every week.

“He will go on and do that.”

Case has long been asked to put his life into print and, at 60, has finally decided to take the plunge.

The autobiography is a tale of how he grew up on Merseyside, got signed by Liverpool at 18 when he thought his chances were gone, and went on to become one of the most decorated English players of all time.

He won four First Division titles, three European Cups, a UEFA Cup and a League Cup in his time at Anfield.

After his time at Liverpool Case became Lawrie McMenenmy’s last signing for Saints, who paid Brighton £30,000 for his services in 1985.

Case, despite being in his 30s when he signed, made 269 appearances for the club and became a legend at Saints as well as Liverpool.

He also settled in the area and still has great affection for his many friends from down the years at Saints, as well as the fans who he claims are “brilliant”.

His book features a lot about his time at Saints and is packed full of amusing anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories.

Jimmy Case’s autobiography, Hard Case, is available now.

Case will be signing copies at Waterstones in Southampton’s WestQuay at 12 noon today.

There are extracts from the book and a big interview with Case on his decision to go into print, as well as more tales from his life and times at Saints, including how he once threatened to punch Peter Shilton, in this weekend’s Pink