QPR v Liverpool – Match Preview

On Sky

2012 has been an awful year for QPR. Although they managed to avoid relegation last season, this year has seen the continuation of an embarrassing away record and many poor performances from overpaid players. On top of that you have terrible decisions all across the club from player acquisition to managerial appointments, 2012 should be a year to forget for the R’s. So to cap off an underwhelming year, QPR welcome Liverpool to Loftus Road tomorrow. No doubt a fixture that years ago would’ve set the pulses racing for R’s fans but now that Liverpool are a fading force, this match is a fairly standard contest between a mid table side against one staring relegation in the face.

QPR head into the match off the back of successive defeats. The recent loss to West Brom was particularly hard to take as the referee and his merry men of incompetents ruined the match by failing to spot a blatant obstruction on Rob Green and a Liam Ridgewell hand ball. It is a shame that so many matches in our top divisions are severely affected by inadequate officiating. Nevertheless QPR were poor for 70 minutes and should’ve made a better attempt to win the match. QPR need to learn from their mistakes against the Baggies otherwise it will be a third defeat in three games.

On their day, Liverpool can be an exquisite side to watch. The attacking prowess of the sensational Luis Suarez is most entertaining and masks the dearth of average players they now boast in their squad. They will fancy their chances against QPR and see a side that can be picked apart by their passing football, which similar to Swansea last season is reliant on dragging opposition players out of position and capitalising on the space that arises. Brendan Rodgers will be looking for a reaction after the defeat to Stoke and his side will be eager to atone for that match.

Last Fixture

QPR 1 (Cisse)
West Brom 2 (Brunt, Green o.g.)

Team: Green, Traore, Ferdinand, Hill, Fabio (Hoilett), Taarabt, Wright-Phillips, Faurlin (Diakite), Mbia, Cisse, Mackie.

Stoke 3 (Walters x2, Jones)
Liverpool 1 (Gerrard pen)

Team: Reina, Johnson, Enrique, Agger, Skrtel, Gerrard, Downing (Cole), Lucas (Henderson), Shelvey, Suarez, Suso (Sterling).

QPR Team News:

Ryan Nelsen is a doubt with flu. Julio Cesar and Nedum Onuoha are also doubtful.

Possible line up:

Player to watch: Jamie Mackie

As we all remember, Jamie Mackie came off the bench to score a season defining goal against Liverpool that sent QPR on a run which would later keep them in the division. Wouldn’t it be nice if Mackie scored the winner tomorrow. Mackie is a player that the fans can identify with. He plays with passion and heart. That is all the fans ask for when a player wears the famous blue and white jersey. Unfortunately, this last year has seen far too many players (mercenaries) take our great club for a ride. Jamie Mackie is not one of those and i’m proud he is associated with QPR. He is a leader and I’m expecting a big performance from Jamie against Liverpool. Admittedly, he could do with adding a few more goals to his name this season but they will come as long as he puts himself in the positions.

Liverpool Team News:

Raheem Sterling and Joe Allen could start tomorrow. Luis Suarez is expected to start despite an ankle injury.

Possible line up:

Player to watch: Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling has been identified as the player to watch ahead of the match against Liverpool.

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The Stat Attack

LAST FIVE

Queens Park Rangers: DDWLL
Liverpool: WWLWL

HEAD 2 HEAD

Queens Park Rangers: 8
Liverpool: 31
Draw: 8

LAST TIME OUT

Premier League – 21/03/12
Loftus Road

QPR 3 (Derry, Cisse, Mackie)
Liverpool 2 (Coates, Kuyt)

Team: Kenny, Traore (Taiwo), Young, Ferdinand, Onuoha, Diakite, Derry, Taarabt, Barton (Mackie), Cisse (Buzsaky), Zamora

Attendance: 18,033

Ref Watch:

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Manchester)
Assistants: Gary Beswick (Durham) & Andy Halliday (North Yorkshire)
Fourth Official: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)

Anthony Taylor is the match official for tomorrow’s game against Liverpool. Last season Taylor issued 106 yellow cards and 8 red cards in 34 games.

Match Prediction:

A difficult game that will test the discipline of our team. Liverpool will try to pull our players out of position with their neat passing approach play and it is up to the boys to remain resolute and compact. Liverpool can be vulnerable at the back and a bit of adventure going forward wouldn’t go amiss. I was particularly worried by the performance of Alejandro Faurlin against West Brom. He was dominated by Mulumbu but I don’t see a similar physical presence in the Liverpool team that could have the same impact, so hopefully Faurlin has a better game this time out. I think Faurlin is key to Taarabt as he is Adel’s main supply line. Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling will of course be players to watch but Jose Enrique and Glen Johnson will also need to be dealt with as they are fullbacks that are very purposeful when in the attacking third.

1-1Draw

Next Up

Who: Chelsea
Where: Stamford Bridge
When: 02/01/13