High-flying Foxes, Saints and Swans tackle bottom six sides

Second place Southampton are defying all critics, who said they would struggle having sold their best and brightest from last season. Top scorer Graizano Pelle has four in all competitions, including a brace on his last home outing. Back the Italian frontman to hurt Harry Redknapp’s Hoops with a goal anytime at even-money, or 4/1 to net the opener.

Pelle has Senegal winger Saido Mane and creative Serbia counterpart Dusan Tadic in support. The latter is 7/4 to follow up his midweek penalty against Arsenal with a goal again. QPR, meanwhile, remain heavily reliant on Charlie Austin, but must furnish him with chances.

Austin is 11/4 in the anytime market, while faithful Redknapp retainer Niko Kranjcar is 7/4 following his free kick against Stoke. Dearth in the Hoops attack does make Southampton tasty at 6/5 to win to nil, though.

Sunderland v Swansea
Wearside outfit Sunderland have just one victory in six meetings with Swansea in the Premier League, so that is why Garry Monk’s men are 6/4 favourites for a win at the Black Cats. Odds of 25/1 say the visitors can repeat their 3-1 triumph from May at the Stadium of Light.

Gus Poyet’s team are 9/5 for their first league win of the season, but look better at 9/4 for a fifth draw. Sunderland will have to try and find a way to contain Swans leading marksman Nathan Dyer. He has four in all competitions, netted first as the south Wales side earned their first-ever win over Everton in midweek and did so in the last meeting with the Mackems.

Dyer is tasty value at 10/3 for a goal anytime, and 9/1 to score first. Wilfried Bony, meanwhile, is back from a ban and a 13/2 chance to net last. Wayne Routledge, who Monk tied down to a contract extension, will likely complete Swansea’s front three and is also 10/3 to celebrate his new deal by being on target.

Steven Fletcher is the only current Sunderland player to have scored for the Black Cats in this fixture, so all hopes are pinned on the Scotland striker at 7/4. Back a Swansea win.