Ronald Koeman believes Toby Alderweireld has improved not only the Saints defence but all the players around him.

The Belgian centre half has been a revelation since joining on a season long loan from Atletico Madrid, and has helped Saints to the best defensive record anywhere in English professional football in this campaign.

Saints have conceded just five goals in nine Premier League games, which coupled with their attacking prowess has taken them to second in the Premier League table.

“He came in and it looks like he was a long time in,” said Koeman of Alderweireld.

“He played for Atletico Madrid and maybe last season Atletico Madrid had the best defence in Europe.

“He learned a lot because he was playing for Ajax and Ajax is more important to play with the ball.

“He learned a lot about the defensive tactics of the coach and he showed that.

“I think so (he has improved players around him) because he’s still a young player but he knows a lot about the level of the Champions League and the Spanish league and he brings his qualities in and experience and that helps the team.”

Saints’ defensive record has flown a little under the radar given their recent scoring feats, but Koeman is adamant it should not be overlooked when discussing their success.

“We worked very hard in the pre-season about our organisation in the team and when you don’t have the ball and how you have to defend,” he insisted.

“It’s teamwork and it starts with the forwards and how they do pressing, how compact you play and it’s great because clean sheets make winning games and we showed that again and I am very proud about that.”

Saints kept another clean sheet at the weekend as they defeated Stoke 1-0 and Koeman added: “That’s very important because that’s the basic to win games to play out of good organisation and defending well.

“Defending is not only for the defenders but defending starts in front and that’s teamwork and that’s going well.

“I think that’s the key of our position on the list that we play out of good organisation, it’s not easy to score against Southampton and we have qualities in players who can score.

“Mane showed that and last week a lot of players scored and that’s two reasons we stayed so up in the table.”