Liverpool vs. QPR: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream & TV Info

The final month of the season is upon us, and Liverpool host Queens Park Rangers in their penultimate home game of the campaign.

Brendan Rodgers' side have little to play for after disappointing results in their last two games, which rendered no goals and just one point, therefore all but ruling them out of a top-four finish.

Whichever way these final four games play out for Rodgers' side, it will be a disappointing end to a very disappointing season.

After being the form team of 2015, Liverpool have now taken just four points from the last five games—only Newcastle United and Burnley have fared worse (per BBC Sport).

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With Rodgers' job potentially on the line, he must inspire his side to remain professional and overcome relegation-threatened QPR in a way in which they failed to beat West Bromwich Albion or Hull City in their last two games.

QPR arrive on Merseyside four points from safety in the Premier League relegation zone; they will be fighting for their lives and looking to improve on the 3-2 defeat suffered in the corresponding fixture at Loftus Road earlier this season.

QPR have only ever won once at Anfield, back in 1991, and have lost 1-0 on each of their last three visits.

Neither side have scored in their last two Premier League games.

Date: Saturday, 2 May

Time: 3 p.m. BST (10 a.m. ET)

Venue: Anfield, Liverpool

TV Info: NBC Sports Live Extra

Live Stream:  NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S. only)

Predicted Formations

Liverpool's perennially injured centre-forward Daniel Sturridge has returned to the USA for further assessment on his latest injury, ruling him out.

Clive Rose/Getty Images

He's joined on the sidelines by fellow forward Mario Balotelli, who suffered a foot injury in the defeat to Hull City on Tuesday night.

Returning to the squad for Rodgers' side are the trio of captain Steven Gerrard, midfielder Lucas Leiva and left-back Alberto Moreno.

QPR forward Bobby Zamora faces a late fitness test for the visitors.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Lovren, Ibe, Henderson, Allen, Moreno, Gerrard, Coutinho, Sterling.

QPR: Green, Onuoha, Dunne, Caulker, Suk-Young, Philips, Barton, Sandro, Henry, Fer, Austin.

Form Lines (All Competitions) 

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Liverpool

Lost 1-0 vs. Hull City

Drew 0-0 vs. West Brom

Lost 2-1 vs. Aston Villa (FA Cup)

Won 2-0 vs. Newcastle United

Won 1-0 vs. Blackburn (FA Cup)

QPR

Drew 0-0 vs. West Ham United

Lost 1-0 vs. Chelsea

Drew 3-3 vs. Aston Villa

Won 4-1 vs. West Brom

Lost 2-1 vs. Everton

Player to Watch

Liverpool: Rickie Lambert

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

With Balotelli and Sturridge ruled out, Rickie Lambert is in line for a rare start, according to the Liverpool Echo. It would be his first league start of 2015, having only started once since the turn of the year—away to AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup.

Perhaps it's a sentimental move by Rodgers, giving the Liverpudlian a rare home start before he likely leaves the club in the summer. His three goals for the Reds have all been away from home; a goal for him at Anfield would put a smile on fans' faces.

QPR: Charlie Austin

Other than PFA Young Player of the Year Harry Kane, QPR's Charlie Austin is the highest-scoring Englishman in the Premier League this season—with an impressive 17 goals for the relegation battlers. That's 10 goals more than Liverpool's top league scorer, Raheem Sterling, who has a paltry seven.

Clive Rose/Getty Images

Austin will be needed to find the net if QPR are to pull off the great escape this season, starting at Anfield.

Key Battle

Midfield

Much will depend on whether Rodgers starts Gerrard and if so, where he plays him. Should he opt for a 4-3-3 shape with Gerrard at the base of the midfield, then QPR will look to exploit this like many clubs have this season.

Joey Barton and Sandro will provide the energy for the visitors, and Liverpool must match their work rate and intensity in order to control the game. The midfield areas will be keenly contested with QPR having it all to play for.

Odds (via Odds Shark)

Liverpool win:  - 275

QPR win: + 750

Draw: + 400

Prediction: Liverpool 1-1 QPR