Joey Barton: Relegation Could Cost Careers at Rangers

Joey Barton has insisted that the Queens Park Rangers squad are playing for their futures, as they bid to climb out of the relegation places of the Premier League. The midfielder's rallying call comes after a terrific fight back at home to Liverpool to earn a 3-2 victory was followed up by defeat at the Stadium of Light.

They currently sit in 18th place, one off Bolton Wanderers who lay above them with a game in hand and three off Blackburn Rovers in 17th, with Aston Villa a further five off the Ewood Park club.

Next up is Arsenal at Loftus Road, with a trip to Manchester United first up in April. Barton told QPR's official website:

"

But there are livelihoods on the line here. People's careers are on the line. I'm not sure that's the case at Arsenal to be honest. They'll want to win the game because they're professionals and they'll want to finish in the Champions League places, which is a minimum requirement for them.

But there are lads here whose careers are on the line and we have to realise that. This is more than a game of football now. The next eight games govern our futures.

All the lads need to realise that. If we don't, we'll be punished for it.

"

Desperation

As we edge closer and closer to the season's climax, the need for those struggling at the wrong end of the season to pick up points is alarming.

And the captain is under no illusions as to the task that is facing his side, he added:

"

We're as desperate for the points as they are, for totally different reasons obviously. Arsenal are a really good footballing side, they're the in-form side in the league. But I feel when we went to the Emirates we acquitted ourselves really well.

I think we deserved to get something out of the game. The manner of that defeat was frustrating, because we gave a good account of ourselves. We went there with a game-plan to make it really difficult for them and we did that for very long spells.

I think Arsenal will head here expecting to win this game. The Arsenal dressing room will think this is the kind of game they should win, but Liverpool probably thought the same. There's a difference between thinking you should get the points here and actually getting points here.

"

Rangers face an uphill task with an unkind fixture list plotting against them, but do fans believe they can escape?

Or are they doomed to be back in the Championship next season?