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.

February 7, 1998

Liverpool 2 Saints 3

Incredibly, Saints followed up their wins against Chelsea and Manchester United by beating another title challenging team.

Liverpool entered the game just four points off the lead, but allowed Saints to claim their first league win at Anfield since 1981.

David Hirst put the visitors ahead, with Michael Owen levelling before half-time.

That was the end of the scoring until the 84th minute, when Egil Ostenstad restored Saints’ lead.

Hirst added his second before Owen, then only 18, struck his second.

January 20, 1999

Saints 3 Leeds 0

Second bottom Saints were four points adrift of safety when fifth placed Leeds turned up at The Dell.

Fresh from a 7-1 hammering at Anfield, Dave Jones’ men were not expected to surprise a Leeds side who had only failed to score once in 12 matches.

Hassan Kachloul back-heeled a Jason Dodd shot to give Saints the lead, with Matt Oakley adding a second after the hour mark.

Egil Ostenstad completed the win – the only time that season that Leeds lost by a three-goal margin – five minutes from the end.

January 1 2002

Chelsea 2 Saints 4

The New Year dawned with Saints only out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

In contrast, Chelsea were sixth having only lost once at home at Stamford Bridge all season.

But Gordon Strachan’s Saints produced a stunning result, hitting back from 1-2 down.

James Beattie opened the scoring, before Eidur Gudjohnsen and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink turned the game around.

Marian Pahars brought Saints level, and Chris Marsden headed the visitors – who had lost 6-1 at Old Trafford in their previous away game – into a shock lead.

Beattie had the final say, as Saints came from behind to win away from home for the first time since September 1994.

January 9, 2002

Saints 2 Liverpool 0

Saints followed up their win at Stamford Bridge by beating a Liverpool side who were only three points adrift of leaders Leeds.

James Beattie opened the scoring and John Arne-Riise put through his own goal.

Liverpool were suffering only their third league defeat in 18 matches.

November 23, 2002

Saints 3 Arsenal 2 This was one of only six league defeats Arsenal suffered en route to the Gunners finishing runners-up.

Arriving at St Mary’s top of the table with just two losses in 14 games, Arsene Wenger’s side had Sol Campbell sent off in a thrilling encounter.

After Dennis Bergkamp had put Arsenal ahead, James Beattie levelled from a free-kick.

Saints keeper Antti Niemi kept his side level with a fantastic triple save from Patrick Vieira.

Beattie netted again from the penalty spot – his eighth goal in a purple six-match patch – after Campbell had been sent off for a foul on Agustin Delgado.

There followed the sight of Delgado bundling home Saints’ third goal, for what proved his only ever league strike for the club.

Robert Pires set up a tense finale when he replied for the 10-man Gunners.

August 31, 2003

Saints 1 Manchester 0

Saints’ last Premier League success against United prior to last Sunday.

United went into the early-season game having won their first three league matches of 2003/04.

Gordon Strachan’s men had drawn their opening three, but grabbed their first win thanks to James Beattie’s 88th minute header.

December 13, 2003

Liverpool 1 Saints 2

Liverpool entered the game in fifth place, three ahead of Saints.

In regards to league positions, therefore, it was not a major shock that Saints won.

But Saints have won so infrequently at Anfield down the years that any victory there deserves inclusion in this list.

Brett Ormerod gave Gordon Strachan’s men a second minute lead.

Michael Svensson doubled the lead midway through the second half, with Emile Heskey grabbing a consolation.

March 14, 2004

Saints 2 Liverpool 0

Saints completed what remains their only Premier League double over the one-time European kings.

In Paul Sturrock’s first game in charge, Saints won with goals from strike pair James Beattie and Kevin Phillips.

Antti Niemi made it a great day for the hosts by saving a Michael Owen penalty as Liverpool lost for only the fourth time in 15 away league games that term.

January 22, 2005

Saints 2 Liverpool 0

Harry Redknapp won his first league game as Saints boss at the eighth time of asking.

David Prutton put second bottom Saints ahead against their fifth placed visitors after only five minutes.

Peter Crouch, who was to sign for the European Champions League winners the following summer, headed a second on 22 minutes.

It was only Saints’ third home league win in 12 attempts, but could not stop them being relegated.

February 9, 2013

Saints 3 Manchester City 1

One of the biggest shocks Saints have ever pulled off in a Premier League game.

City arrived at St Mary’s for a Saturday tea-time kick off having only lost twice in 25 league games that season.

Saints were fifth bottom, with only three home league wins from 12 attempts to their name, and still searching for their first win under new boss Mauricio Pochettino.

But Jason Puncheon and Steven Davis shocked City by scoring inside the opening 22 minutes.

Though Edin Dzeko pulled one back before half-time, City’s misery was complete when Gareth Barry put through his own goal three minutes into the second half.

March 16 2013

Saints 3 Liverpool 1

Another great scalp for Mauricio Pochettino as fifth bottom Saints defeated sixth top Liverpool.

Morgan Schneiderlin thrust the hosts into a sixth minute lead with boyhood Reds fan Rickie Lambert netting just after the half hour mark.

Philippe Coutinho replied on the stroke of half-time for a Reds side who fielded Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge up front.

Jay Rodriguez sealed Saints’ victory ten minutes from time, easing their relegation fears in the process.

It was to prove Liverpool’s last defeat of the league season, as they won four and drew four of their last eight matches.

March 30 2013

Saints 2 Chelsea 1

Having defeated the defending Premier League champions and the five-times kings of Europe, Saints then beat the reigning Champions League title holders at St Mary’s.

Jay Rodriguez opened the scoring for fifth bottom Saints against their third placed visitors.

After John Terry had levelled on 33 minutes, Rickie Lambert curled in a fantastic free-kick two minutes later.

September 21 2013

Liverpool 0 Saints 1

Saints inflicted on Liverpool their first Premier League loss since beating them at St Mary’s the previous March. Without the suspended Luis Suarez, Liverpool – who entered the game top of the table – conceded the only goal to Dejan Lovren on 53 minutes.

It was to prove their last home league defeat until going down 2-0 to Chelsea last April.

October 18, 2014

Saints 8 Sunderland 0

Even though Saints were above the Black Cats at the time, this result is worth including for the margin of victory alone.

Sunderland had only conceded three away goals in as many league games prior to this record breaking drubbing.

Remarkably, Gus Poyet’s men then conceded only once in their next five away top flight matches prior to losing 3-2 at Manchester City recently.

Sunderland added to their misery by conceding a hat-trick of own goals by Santiago Vergini , Liam Bridcutt and Patrick van Aanholt.

Graziano Pelle (2), Jack Cork, Dusan Tadic and Victor Wanyama were also on target as Saints scored eight at home in the league for the first time since the mid 1960s.

January 1 2014

Saints 2 Arsenal 0

Even though Saints were above the Gunners at the time, this result was a major statement of intent from Ronald Koeman’s side.

Even without the influential Morgan Schneiderlin and the injured Nathaniel Clyne, Saints still proved too strong for Arsene Wenger’s men.

Sadio Mane opened the scoring from an acute angle, with Dusan Tadic adding the second in the second half.

January 11 2014

Manchester United 0 Saints 1

Sub Dusan Tadic ended 27 years of hurt by netting the only goal in a famous Premier League victory.

His second half goal gave the club their first league success at Old Trafford since January 1988.

In the ensuing 19 league trips to United, Saints had drawn just three and lost the rest.

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.