Ronald Koeman insists Saints will try and dominate Newcastle today as they aim to further their push for European football.

After defeat to Leicester last weekend, Saints really need to return to winning ways at St Mary’s this afternoon if they are to have a chance of achieving their ambition of qualifying for Europe.

They host relegation threatened Newcastle, well aware that the Magpies have a terrible away record and may try to shore things up at the back and frustrate Saints.

Koeman said: “If we play home we like to dominate the game, to play offensive football and normally they like to stop that football and maybe surprise us with counter attacking.

“They have good individual quality in the team and that makes them dangerous.”

Koeman has gone head-to-head with Magpies boss Rafael Benitez a number of times in the past, all in the Champions League, and they have a fairly even record.

If he needs any insight into Benitez’s tactics he can ask Sammy Lee, the Liverpool legend who served under the Spaniard on the Anfield coaching staff and now works with Koeman at St Mary’s.

“Yes I met him in different Champions League games, but I don't really know him personally,” said Koeman of Benitez.

“If I need some more information about Rafa we have Sammy Lee who was his assistant at Liverpool.

“We analyse Newcastle and then already I did my Sky job on television on the Monday by Leicester-Newcastle and after one game we saw already his thoughts about how he likes to play with his team.

“It's good organised, and of course they have some good individual players up front and we need to stop them.”

Koeman admitted it is hard to understand why Newcastle have struggled, but believes keeping them in the Premier League would be a huge achievement if Benitez can pull it off.

He reflected: “Yes on one side (surprised they are struggling) yes but it's not the first year or the first season they are struggling in the Premier League.

“It's difficult to have opinions about why from outside.

“It's strange though because they have good players.

“It will be a big achievement because the situation now is for them that they have six points less than Norwich.

“They have Man City at home and a difficult schedule as well.

“It's a must-win game for Newcastle and a must-win game for Southampton, it's a nice game to watch I think.”

Koeman was asked whether he felt it was a risk to Benitez’s reputation to take on the job and replied: “I don’t know. It’s difficult to have an opinion about that.

“He had the talks to the club, he had the feeling to the club, and if he thinks he can keep the team in the Premier League of course it’s a good opportunity for the manager because still we are talking about a big club in the Premier League. It’s not a small one, it’s really an important one in the Premier League.

“Why I don’t know. They have some good players, spend a lot of money but third year in row struggling.

“I don’t know why because I’m outside, you need that conclusion from the inside.”