Ronald Koeman believes the Premier League title is a two horse race between Chelsea and Manchester City.

Saints currently sit second in the table after their stunning start to the season with the manager very much eyeing a bid for a European spot for his side.

However, he has played down suggestions his team could be title contenders.

He said: “I think it’s a two team race because still I believe that City and Chelsea are more stronger over the whole season and not in one game because I think we can beat them.

“Over the whole season normally they are stronger than we.

“We know our situation, we know our ambition and we live game by game and it’s not necessary to look more forward.”

Saints welcome Leicester to St Mary’s at the weekend for the final game before another international break hoping to keep their fine run of form going.

Koeman has no fresh injury worries ahead of the match which comes before a tough run of games when the players return from international duty.

“We know our schedule for the month of December and the end of November,” he said.

“We will have a tough week in the beginning of December but we will look forward to that because that gives us the possibilities to play well and see what we can do against the big ones.

“The first one we have to play this weekend against Leicester and maybe that’s more difficult.”

He added: “I think of course it depends always how the first team is doing and we know that we are a strong team at home until now and the fans love how we play football.

“That’s a good understanding between the fans and the players and we like to keep this.

“We are happy we are sold out for this weekend because that means a lot to the players and we like to bring three points to our fans on Saturday.”