QPR vs. Liverpool: 6 Key Issues That Will Shape Premier League Game
After the international break, the Premier League resumes for its eighth round of matches this weekend, and on Sunday Loftus Road will play host to a clash between Queens Park Rangers and Liverpool.
Hosts QPR have struggled since returning to the top flight, having notched just four points from their opening seven games, and are currently sitting at the bottom of the Premier League table. Their last result was a 0-2 loss at West Ham United.
Liverpool ended a disappointing run of results with a 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion at Anfield a couple of weekends ago, marking their first three points since their 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in late August.
Here are six key issues that will shape the clash at Loftus Road this Sunday.
Charlie Austin’s Immense Burden
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In seven league games this season, QPR have only scored four goals, half of which belong to Charlie Austin.
A superb turn and strike against Southampton in September was an excellent example of what Austin can bring to Rangers and the Premier League, but he has a huge burden on his shoulders, given the overall profligacy of his team.
The other scorers in the league for QPR this term are Steven Caulker and Niko Kranjcar, while none of their other forwards—Eduardo Vargas and Bobby Zamora—have scored yet.
Daniel Sturridge’s Return
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Contrast that with Liverpool’s options, which have been bolstered significantly with Daniel Sturridge’s return from injury.
However, despite having notched 10 goals so far this season, only two players in Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling have scored more than one goal this season, and Mario Balotelli is the only striker who has scored since Sturridge’s injury.
While it is perhaps unrealistic for Reds fans to expect Sturridge to instantly return to top goal-scoring form, they will be looking forward to a continuation of a promising striker partnership with Balotelli, and hope that his return will inject some much-needed pace and direct running up front.
QPR’s Abject Record
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One win, one draw, five losses, four goals scored, 15 conceded—this Premier League season isn’t shaping up to be one of Rangers’ finest.
A meek exit from the Capital One Cup in August with a 0-1 loss to League Two side Burton Albion also served as further damnation of the lack of quality across the board, and underpinned an abysmal first few months of the season.
With five losses out of five on the road in the Premier League, QPR have at least a slight better record at home, with one win and one draw at Loftus Road, but they will hope that they have more than just their home crowd to inspire them to a result on Sunday.
Liverpool’s Set-Piece Deficiency
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Helping QPR’s cause is Liverpool’s alarming weakness at set-piece situations this season, and the fact that Steven Caulker’s goal was a header from a corner and Niko Kranjcar’s a sumptuous free kick—both of which came in a 2-2 draw against Stoke City.
Simon Mignolet has come under severe criticism for his performances this term and has been guilty of committing costly and eye-catching mistakes in the Liverpool goal.
With Liverpool heavy favorites to dominate the possession statistics on Sunday and QPR not looking potent enough to score on the counter, set pieces might be the best way for Rangers to steal a shock result.
The Spirit in the Loftus Road Dressing Room
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A slow start to the season has put Harry Redknapp under immense pressure—following reports that owner Tony Fernandes has put contract talks with Redknapp on hold, according to Matt Law of the Telegraph.
Law has reported more recently that even the QPR players fear for the future of Redknapp, and that they are “growing increasingly convinced that is just a matter of time before he leaves.”
Newcastle United’s Papiss Cisse has publicly claimed that calls for Magpies manager Alan Pardew to be sacked are damaging to his club (via Sky Sports); when the dissidence at Loftus Road increases, it isn’t hard to imagine the pressure exponentially increasing on Redknapp and his players alike.
Restarting Liverpool’s Season
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With almost a clean bill of health in his squad, especially up front with Sturridge’s return, Brendan Rodgers will be looking forward to finally getting Liverpool’s season under way.
A shaky start to the season has heaped pressure on his own shoulders—Luis Suarez’s summer exit has left the team with a massive hole to fill—but Rodgers will be keen to put a hesitant period behind him with a strong performance on Sunday.
Real Madrid visit Anfield just three days after Liverpool travel to Loftus Road—the Reds will want a second win on the bounce to keep up morale before taking on the European Champions in a mouthwatering tie on Wednesday.
