Though you only get three points whoever you beat, some victories are obviously far sweeter and more memorable than others.

Saints have enjoyed two such Premier League successes in 2015 already.

They followed up a New Year’s Day win against Arsenal with last Sunday’s 1-0 triumph at Old Trafford.

Both were results to savour.

It was only Saints’ fourth ever Premier League win against the Gunners, while it was their first league victory at Manchester United for almost 27 years.

Here, we take a look at the most eye-catching wins in Saints’ 38-season top flight career.

We look at the wins where the formbook was truly turned upside down, and the victories where Saints stunned some of the biggest clubs in the country at the time.

October 3, 1981

Saints 4 Ipswich 3

UEFA Cup holders Ipswich came to the south coast top of the league and unbeaten in their first seven games.

Saints, down in 10th place, fell behind to a John Wark strike after only 27 seconds.

Kevin Keegan levelled from the penalty spot before Wark restored the visitors’ lead.

Paul Mariner made it 3-1 and it seemed as if the Suffolk side were en route to another win.

But Saints sensationally stormed back, levelling with two goals in four minutes from Steve Moran and Dave Armstrong.

And when Armstrong hit his second on 63 minutes, Saints had scored three times in just 11 minutes.

November 28, 1981

Liverpool 0 Saints 1

Saints were actually above Liverpool in the table when they won at Anfield for the first time in the top flight.

But the Reds, at the time the reigning European Cup holders, had only lost once at home prior to this game, while Saints had only won once away in eight attempts.

Steve Moran’s 87th minute winner sent Saints six points clear of Liverpool, who still ended up winning the First Division title.

December 5, 1981

Saints 3 Manchester United 2

United arrived at The Dell as top flight leaders, ahead of Ipswich on goal difference with Saints two points behind in third place.

Dave Armstrong’s 89th minute winner dramatically took Lawrie McMenemy’s side into second place, with Ipswich taking over at the top after a 1-0 win at Middlesbrough.

Due to the fact both teams were in the top three, a Saints win was obviously not a huge surprise.

But any win against United is to be savoured and this was no exception.

After Frank Stapleton had put Ron Atkinson’s men ahead, Saints levelled through Steve Moran.

Kevin Keegan put the hosts ahead, with Bryan Robson plundering a leveller.

Keegan saw a superb hooked effort disallowed for Armstrong standing in an offside position, but Saints had the last laugh.

April 16, 1983

Saints 3 Liverpool 2

Liverpool arrived on a sunny spring day a massive 17 points clear at the top of the First Division with just six games left.

Victory would have given Bob Paisley’s men the title.

As it was, the Reds were declared champions anyway even though they lost for only the fourth time in 37 games.

That was because second-placed Watford, who would go on and finish runners-up in their first ever top flight campaign, also lost that day.

All the goals came in a breathless first half, with eighth-placed Saints taking a fourth minute lead through a Steve Moran spot-kick.

Liverpool were ahead by the 16th minute, thanks to Kenny Dalglish and Craig Johnston, but Saints were back on terms after 22 minutes through Nick Holmes.

It was Holmes who had the final say, scoring what proved to be the winner four minutes before half-time – his 30-yard effort sailing past future Saint Bruce Grobbelaar.

September 17, 1983

Saints 3 Manchester United 0

Ron Atkinson’s United arrived in third place, having won both their away games so far.

Saints were still unbeaten and romped to victory after Steve Williams had scored twice in the first 17 minutes.

That was a rare double for the England international, who only scored once more in 26 league games that season.

Dave Armstrong added a late third, and Saints have only beaten United by a three-goal margin once since that day over 30 years ago – in October 1996.

March 16, 1984

Liverpool 0 Saints 2

Again Liverpool arrived on the south coast as top flight leaders, this time having only lost four times in 31 matches.

Saints were fifth, 11 points adrift of Joe Fagan’s men but with two games in hand.

Famously, Danny Wallace scored both goals as Saints won this Friday night fixture screened live on television – a rare event for a league game in those days.

Wallace’s opening goal was a superb overhead kick, while the smallest player on the pitch climbed high to head in a late second.

Liverpool went on to lift the First Division title, the League Cup and also the European Cup.

Saints, of course, were runners-up – just three points behind one of the best sides in post-war English football history.

October 6, 1984

Saints 1 Tottenham 0

Saints started this game fifth bottom after just one win in eight games, while Tottenham were top on goal difference from Nottingham Forest.

Steve Moran netted the formbook-busting goal on the half hour mark.

March 1, 1986

Saints 1 Manchester United 0

Ron Atkinson’s United were just three points behind leaders Everton with a game in hand when they arrived to find The Dell pitch covered in a dusting of snow.

The only goal for 15th placed Saints came from Glenn Cockerill nine minutes from time.

September 20, 1986

Saints 2 Liverpool 1

Saints, down in 16th place, defeated the joint leaders and reigning league champions.

Dave Armstrong and Glenn Cockerill scored, either side of a Steve McMahon leveller.

The game ended on a bad note for the visitors when Kevin McDonald suffered a broken leg.

November 21, 1987

Arsenal 0 Saints 1

Danny Wallace scored the only goal against an Arsenal side that started the game two points clear at the top and who were searching for an 11th successive league victory.

It remains Saints’ last league victory at the Gunners.

January 16, 1988

Manchester United 0 Saints 2

A few months after winning at Highbury, Saints went to Old Trafford and ended another impressive run.

This was United’s first home league loss of the season, and it was to prove their only Old Trafford defeat of Alex Ferguson’s first full campaign in charge.

Until last Sunday, it was also Saints’ last league victory at the stadium.

Chris Nicholl’s men entered the game down in 13th place, but emerged victorious thanks to a Colin Clarke double.

October 21, 1989

Saints 4 Liverpool 1

Kenny Dalglish’s Reds arrived at The Dell unbeaten after eight games and top of the table.

But they had no answer to Chris Nicholl’s men, who stormed into a 3-0 lead thanks to Rod Wallace (2) and Paul Rideout.

Peter Beardsley reduced the arrears from the penalty spot after a foul from ex-Red Jimmy Case, but Matt Le Tissier completed the scoring.

December 26, 1989

Saints 1 Arsenal 0

George Graham’s defending champions were top of the table again – a point clear of Liverpool with a game in hand – when they turned up for a Boxing Day encounter at The Dell.

But they went away beaten, Rod Wallace netting the only goal eight minutes from time.

March 2, 1991

Saints 2 Leeds 0

Leeds were making a big impression in their first season back in the top flight, and were fourth going into this game with just five losses from 24 games.

Paul Rideout, after 10 minutes, and Glenn Cockerill, five minutes from time, gave 14th placed Saints victory.

April 1, 1991

Saints 1 Liverpool 0

This was a formbook-shredding success.

Liverpool arrived second in the table, trailing Arsenal by just two points, while Chris Nicholl’s Saints were fourth bottom – only two points above the drop zone.

Matt Le Tissier scored after four minutes, and Saints held on to inflict on Liverpool only a sixth loss in 31 games.

This was the season you really didn’t want to end up going down – the Premier League was formed in the summer of 1992.

Luton and Notts County were two of the clubs that suffered the drop. And, despite voting for the creation of the Premier League, they have never got to appear in it.

West Ham were the third club relegated.

This article appeared as part of a ten-page nostalgia special covering Saints' best top flight wins over football's biggest names. For the best Saints nostalgia don't miss the Sports Pink every weekend.