Saturday, December 10, 2011

Match Preview: Liverpool vs Q.P.R.

Liverpool will hope to continue their dominant record over Queens Park Rangers at Anfield, as Kenny Dalglish aims to get their season back on track.

A painful defeat at Fulham on Monday night ended the Merseysiders' recent unbeaten run, with Jay Spearing seeing red in his club's first defeat in 12 matches.

The loss also cost Liverpool what would have been a record-equalling seventh successive away win and they now return home hoping to avoid a continued theme of their season.

Dalglish has seen his side suffer frustrating draws at Anfield against the likes of Sunderland, Norwich and Swansea this campaign to leave them trailing the top four by five points.

Liverpool, who have also been held at home by Manchester United and Manchester City to mean they are unbeaten in their last seven home matches, but without a win in the last four, will therefore be desperate to avoid a repeat against QPR.

And Neil Warnock takes his club to the North West with the knowledge they have won just once in 20 league visits to Anfield.

In that time, QPR have only won one of the eight Premier League meetings with Liverpool, but the last of these games came in February 1996.

Warnock's team sit 12th in the table ahead of kick-off and six points clear of the relegation zone, but last season's Championship winners will be desperate for some consistency after drawing with West Brom last weekend.

QPR have yet to record back-to-back league wins in a strange, fluctuating season in which they have beaten Chelsea, but have also been hammered by Fulham and lost at Wigan.

Central midfield is once again a concern for Liverpool manager Dalglish ahead of kick-off.

Spearing, who was expected to provide the long-term replacement for Lucas Leiva after the Brazilian's season was ended by a cruciate knee ligament, begins a three-match suspension after his red card.

Captain Steven Gerrard is still recovering from an ankle infection so Jordan Henderson could start in his favoured central position, although the in-form Jonjo Shelvey has continued to impress following his recall from a loan spell at Blackpool.

Matt Connolly is in line for a recall for QPR and DJ Campbell and Kieron Dyer have both returned to first-team training.

Radek Cerny is expected to continue to deputize in goal, with Paddy Kenny and Brian Murphy both still unavailable.

Possible Starting XIs:

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique, Bellamy, Adam, Henderson, Downing, Suarez, Carroll.

QPR: Cerny, Traore, Ferdinand, Gabbidon, Young, Wright-Phillips, Barton, Faurlin, Mackie, Helguson, Bothroyd.

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