Sterling and Coutinho Save Liverpool's Woeful Defence in Late QPR Victory

LOFTUS ROAD, LONDON — In March 2012, QPR overturned a 2-0 deficit to inflict a 3-2 defeat upon Liverpool at Loftus Road. This time, it was Liverpool who walked away 3-2 victors in equally dramatic circumstances—somehow.

For long periods it seemed as though it would take a minor miracle to win this match, given the calamitous defending on offer from the whole of the Liverpool back four. "We didn't play so well today, but we won," admitted Rodgers after the match.

Those three points arrived thanks to the counter-attacking of diminutive duo of Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling for two goals in the closing stages—one either side of Eduardo Vargas' stoppage-time equaliser.

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It was the introduction of Coutinho with 25 minutes remaining that proved pivotal for Brendan Rodgers' side, the Brazilian midfielder providing the get of jail free card on two occasions with his superbly taken goal for 2-1 and superb pass to Sterling, whose cross saw Steven Caulker put through his own net to make it 3-2.

In pre-season, Rodgers had talked up Coutinho as "the brains of the team," but the 22-year-old has, much like Liverpool, struggled to find form so far this campaign and has consequently been in and out of the side. If Coutinho can maintain this form, he will become a key player for Liverpool.

Pre-season saw Coutinho and Sterling combining well, interchanging and running at defenders. Getting the duo playing well together will be key for Liverpool if they are to be successful this campaign.

Defence

Liverpool's defence, meanwhile, was far from impressive, and they owe a huge thanks to Coutinho and Sterling for their rescue act.

The first half in particular saw Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel combine to make Bobby Zamora look more like Karim Benzema. While the two full-backs, Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique, served only to remind fans why Rodgers signed Javier Manquillo and Alberto Moreno in the summer.

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Enrique ended the match with a passing accuracy of 56 per cent, per Squawka.

Lovren's wasn't much better at 68 per cent. The Croatian was twice on the receiving end of a scowl from his captain, Steven Gerrard, after poor passes out from the back either went into the stands or straight to a QPR player.

Liverpool's failure to play out from the back saw Rodgers' experiment with Gerrard back in the No. 10 role ditched at half-time. The 34-year-old reverted back to the deep-lying playmaker role and actually allowed Liverpool to retain possession from the back—doing the job of his two centre-backs.

Balotelli

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Up front, Mario Balotelli's two best chances saw him blaze one over the bar with the goal gaping and slip on his backside for the other. For the first goal, Richard Dunne's own goal, the forward had his back to the play as Liverpool took a quick free-kick down the right.

The Italian looked frustrated, too isolated in the first half and woefully lacking composure when given chances in the second.

To say he needs a goal is an understatement, but his eagerness to get one is becoming a bigger problem. There was an incident shortly before half-time that saw Liverpool get players forward, only for the move to completely break down when Balotelli received the ball 20 yards out and smash the ball toward goal. It showed a complete lack of match intelligence.

Real Madrid will have been watching this match scratching their heads—Liverpool have problems in abundance but somehow escaped with three points.