Everton vs. QPR: Issues and Decisions That Will Shape Premier League Game
Everton welcome Queens Park Rangers to Goodison Park on Monday night in the Premier League's final game of Week 16.
Roberto Martinez's side will be desperate to rectify a slump in form, which has seen them slide down the table to 12th.
QPR, meanwhile, currently sit just four points and five places behind the Toffees on 14 points. Saturday's 2-0 win over Burnley took them out of the relegation zone for the first time since August.
In terms of recent results, it's been fairly even between these two sides.
Everton secured a 4-0 home win in last season's FA Cup, and also won the previous year's home clash 2-0. Before that, QPR were unbeaten in four meetings.
Here's a look ahead to the primary factors set to shape this contest.
QPR's Miserable Away Form
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QPR have picked up some important results of late, but their form away from Loftus Road remains utterly woeful.
Harry Redknapp's side have lost all seven away games in the Premier League this season, scoring just twice and conceding 17 goals in the process.
Unsurprisingly, that's the worst record in the division. In fact, there's no side in England's top four tiers with a return anywhere near as bad.
QPR are now only the second side to lose their opening seven away games in Premier League history. Another loss would put them one short of Bolton Wanderers' record run of nine opening away defeats in 1995-96.
Clearly, such a potentially large mental barrier will have a significant bearing on this fixture.
Everton's Ability to Dominate a Fragile Defence
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For Everton, this match will provide a certain amount of familiarity.
As with their most recent home game against Hull City, the Toffees face a side unable to restrict their opponent's chances.
At the time of that game, Hull averaged the most shots conceded of any Premier League side, while also averaging the fewest attempts at goal.
Despite that appalling ratio, Martinez's side slipped to a disappointing 1-1 draw as the Tigers scored from their only shot on target and largely frustrated the home side.
While QPR's shot count is decent enough, they also concede a barrage of chances, with no Premier League side having allowed more shots on target than Rangers' 86.
Currently, Rob Green has been forced into a save every 23 minutes, making him the most overworked goalkeeper in the Premier League.
With another feeble defence in town, Everton must be far more ruthless with their finishing.
QPR's Firepower Without Charlie Austin
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A big concern for QPR will be how to replace Charlie Austin, whose red card against Burnley causes him to miss this game.
The 25-year-old has struck eight Premier League goals this season, enough to rank him as the division's fourth-top scorer.
In total, he's been behind 50 per cent of QPR's goals, a ratio no other Premier League player can better. Austin also has two assists to his name, meaning only six of Rangers' 16 goals have come without the striker's direct involvement.
Furthermore, only four other QPR players have even scored in the Premier League this season, emphasising this huge reliance on Austin.
Bobby Zamora will presumably be charged with leading the line in Austin's absence, while Redknapp will rely on his attacking midfielders to get forward in support.
Which of Two Contrasting Styles Prevail
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As they did in their last home game against Hull, Everton will face a side content to sit back and challenge the hosts to break them down.
QPR average the third most long passes in the division and one of the highest proportions of long balls. That means the Toffees will face another direct style and a condensed final third, with not much room for their explosive runners.
Last season, Everton's possession approach generally saw them sail through these kind of challenges with ease. In Martinez's second year, however, things have been far more troublesome.
The Toffees have seemingly become too slow in their build-up play and are unable to find the right balance between shooting from distance and creating the perfect chance.
That 1-1 draw with Hull, a 0-0 draw with Swansea and a 3-2 reverse to Crystal Palace are recent examples of Everton being unable to unlock some compact defences at home.
All three have provided perfect examples for Redknapp to study ahead of Monday's clash.
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
