Queens Park Rangers vs Liverpool: Complete Preview, Injury News and Lineups

Ian RodgersDec 27, 2012

Queens Park Rangers and Liverpool will be looking for a return to winning ways when they meet at Loftus Road on Sunday.

The West London side claimed their first win of the Premier League season when they beat Fulham at home on December 15th.

But Harry Redknapp’s team have since suffered further blows to their survival hopes with defeat at Newcastle and a 2-1 reverse against West Brom on Boxing Day.

Similarly, Liverpool had given their supporters hope that the season had turned around with a 4-0 win over Fulham on Saturday.

However, those hopes were quickly vanquished when Brendan Rodgers’ side lost 3-1 at Stoke City on Boxing Day.

Here we look at Sunday’s game in more detail.

Complete Preview

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The days when Queens Park Rangers were Liverpool’s nearest challengers for the English championship are long, long gone but Sunday’s game still has enormous relevance for both clubs.

In 1976, QPR sat on top of the table after their final game of the season, but Liverpool’s win at Wolves ensured the trophy went to Anfield.

Things have changed at both clubs since those halcyon days, though.

QPR manager Harry Redknapp knew keeping the team in the top flight would be one of the biggest challenges of his career, but successive defeats to Newcastle and West Brom have further dented his hopes.

Rangers failed to gel under former boss Mark Hughes, who was sacked last month, and registered just four points from 12 league games.

It was scant reward after QPR spent big on players such as goalkeeper Julio Cesar, defender Jose Bosingwa, midfielders Esteban Granero, Park Ji-Sung and Stephane Mbia, and strikers Djibril Cisse and Bobby Zamora to establish themselves in the top flight.

Under Redknapp there has been an improvement and he appeared to have stopped the rot with two draws and a win in his opening three matches in charge.

But defeats to Newcastle and West Brom in Rangers’ last two outings have left the team six points from safety.

Liverpool has endured an inconsistent campaign in Rodgers’ first season in charge.

The Reds have impressed only in spurts and recent defeats to Stoke and Aston Villa have left the team in mid-table.

The two teams have met 42 times before in the league with Liverpool holding the significant upper hand with 29 wins to Rangers’ seven.

When the teams met at Loftus Road last season, Liverpool allowed a two-goal lead to slip as Rangers rallied to aid their Premier League survival hopes with a 3-2 win.

QPR Team News

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Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp will have a decision to make after goalkeeper Julio Cesar recovered from a groin injury.

The Brazil international has not played since the goalless draw at Sunderland a month ago but was on the bench on Boxing Day and will be fit for the visit of Liverpool.

Redknapp defended Rob Green over the second goal in West Brom's 2-1 win on Boxing Day, but the former West Ham United was badly positioned to allow Marc-Antoine Fortune to hamper him.

Defender Jose Bosingwa is unlikely to feature after his refusal to sit on the bench for the win over Fulham.

Redknapp will assess fullbacks Nedum Onuoha and Armand Traore, who both have hamstring injuries, and midfielder Park Ji-Sung (knee) in the coming days.

Striker Bobby Zamora is still unavailable due to a hip problem, while Andy Johnson will be out for most of the season with a cruciate ligament injury.

Liverpool Team News

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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is awaiting news of striker Luis Suarez ahead of the trip to Queens Park Rangers.

The Uruguay international suffered a further blow to an ankle injury during the defeat at Stoke City.

But Rodgers is confident the talismanic forward will be available for the trip to West London.

Rodgers may be tempted to recall Raheem Sterling to his starting lineup at QPR.

The England international has been rested for the last two Premier League matches against Fulham and Stoke City after a gruelling start to his first full season with the club.

The 18-year-old came off the bench in both matches and could start at Loftus Road.