CLAUDE Puel is adamant that Saints will not adapt their tactics to deal with free-scoring Premier League leaders Liverpool at St Mary’s tomorrow.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have ripped through opponents this season, with ex-Saint Sadio Mane along with Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino combining in a formidable front three.

The Merseyside outfit have netted 30 goals, which is more than anyone else in the top flight and have blown away opponents, scoring four or more goals in five of their 11 games so far.

But Puel will not be parking the bus just to stop Liverpool.

“It’s important for our team just to play our game,” he said. “Of course, we play against a very good team with great players. They play spectacular football, but we have qualities also.

“Liverpool are first because of the chances they create, but we also create opportunities. We can see a good game and an open game and I hope for the supporters a result. We have to stick to our football.”

Liverpool have accelerated to the top, but Puel reckons that a factor in their success is the absence of European football.

“They are one of the favourites,” he said. “We can see their play. They can also work all the week before the game. This is very important, like Chelsea for example (who also don’t play in Europe).

“Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and other teams are at a very good level this season. For us we can play many different players and have a good game against these very good teams. Every time we have a good game.

“Sometimes we are unlucky and are disappointed about the result. But it’s important to continue the good games against these teams.”

He added: “For us, Manchester City, Arsenal and these teams in Europe it’s always about recovery between the games.

“It’s an obligation to change the team. With all this many games it is not possible to recover to work with just debriefings.

“It’s not easy because it’s better to work on the training pitch on situations to make improvements.”

Puel reasserted the importance of rotating his team heading into another busy period.

Saints have nine games in the space of a month coming up and Puel won’t deviate from his usual chopping and changing.

“Of course, it’s a little difficult to keep the concentration,” he said. “That’s why it’s important to change the team.

“It’s important to keep a good energy and have fresh players every time. Against Hull City we lost concentration for about four minutes and we lost the game.

“We stay angry about that result (at Hull) because we lost.”