Saturday, December 29, 2012

Match Preview: QPR vs Liverpool

Queens Park Rangers are looking to end a turbulent 2012 on a high by earning a much-needed Premier League victory against visitors Liverpool in Sunday's televised clash.

Rangers are rooted to the bottom of the table after just one win in their opening 19 matches of the season.

However, supporters are hoping another memorable home victory against the Reds can be the catalyst for survival once again.

The Hoops trailed 2-0 with 13 minutes left in last season's corresponding fixture, before fighting back to win 3-2 and move out of the relegation zone.

It sparked a run of five victories in their final 10 matches to avoid an instant return to the Championship.

Redknapp replaced predecessor Mark Hughes in late November, after the Welshman paid the price for this season's woeful start, and it sparked an initial upturn in the Hoops' fortunes before successive defeats against Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion ruined their Christmas.

Rangers are six points adrift of safety and will be pinning their hopes on ex-Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse firing them to victory against his former club, who have been consistently inconsistent over the past 12 months.

The Reds have shown glimpses of progress under Brendan Rodgers, but the statistics show the 10th-placed club have never accumulated fewer points at the halfway stage of the season since three points for a win rule was introduced in 1981.

However, despite Boxing Day's 3-1 defeat at Stoke, they remain just eight points behind the top four.

Defeat at the Britannia came after a 4-0 rout of Fulham and Rodgers, who has been backed by the Anfield crowd, will be aiming to go into 2013 with a heartening away win as he aims to haul Liverpool back into the Champions League.

Liverpool is sweating on the fitness of top scorer Luis Suarez for the trip to Loftus Road.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers says the Uruguayan striker has been hampered by an ankle injury in recent weeks and could be forced out of the clash.

Former QPR youngster Raheem Sterling is pushing for a start.

No comments: