QPR v Liverpool: Premier League – as it happened

http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2014/oct/19/qpr-v-liverpool-premier-league-live

Version 0 of 1.

3.50pm BST15:50

Anyway, we can all now calm down. Thanks for your company and comments - bye.

3.37pm BST15:37

Liverpool were rubbish today - though they broke with menace and ruthlessness in the second half. Credit to rodgers for moving Sterling to the right when Lallana went off, and credit to his players for picking the right passes almost all of the time.

Rangers, meanwhile, just need to maintain that same level of intensity. Fer was very good in the first half, as was Sandro, Austin was a threat, Zamora was great for an hour, and their set-pieces were very good. Bluntly, they’ve no business being relegated with the players that they have.

3.31pm BST15:31

So, QPR stay bottom, and Liverpool go fifth. That’s all you need to know, with it being a results business, yeah?

3.28pm BST15:28

That was remarkable, incredible, wonderful, outrageous, stupid, shocking, absurd and majestic. That was why we’re reduced to gibbering, quivering, servile amoeba by the unparalleled wonder of football. Wow.

Updated at 3.31pm BST

3.24pm BST15:24

FULL-TIME: QPR 2-3 Liverpool

Oh me. Oh my.

3.21pm BST15:21

GOAL! QPR 2-3 Liverpool (Caulker own goal, 90+5)

WHAT IS GOING ON! Rangers have a corner, and a debate develops - should Steven Caulker go forward? He elects not to, and Liverpool pound forward when it’s cleared, Coutinho arcing a delicious through pass from centrefield around Dunne, foundering in Sterling’s slipstream. So, as McCarthy comes out, he flicks square for Balotelli - or maybe not Balotelli - and there’s the protective Caulker, running the loose ball into his own net. Collective flabber is ghasted.

Updated at 3.59pm BST

3.19pm BST15:19

90+4 min What a miss Balotelli! A cross arrives at the near post, and he flicks when, when a simple turn might have worked, sending the ball wide of the same stick. This is now a nightmare of Pharoahian proportions.

Updated at 4.54pm BST

3.18pm BST15:18

GOAL! QPR 2-2 Liverpool (Vargas, 90+3)

A corner, a near-post header, a deflection, a scramble clear off the line, a check of the watch by the referee, an over the line, an equaliser.

Updated at 3.36pm BST

3.18pm BST15:18

GOAL! QPR 1-2 Liverpool (Coutinho, 89)

What a goal this is! Sterling swoops forward like Orco on skates, and, in the centre-circle, Henry could foul him, but doesn’t. Sterling retreats, then burns away, and switches left to Gerrard, who transfers one further to Coutinho. Immediately, he looks to dart back inside onto his right foot, does, then drills a superb low shot into the far corner.

Updated at 4.02pm BST

3.18pm BST15:18

88 min Almost the winner for Rangers! Again, Vargas sends a nudged ball into the box, and Austin chips towards Caulker at the back post. He nods across, and Vargas nashes in to seal things at what’s now the back post, only for Skrtel to insert a telescopic leg that clears things.

Updated at 4.03pm BST

3.14pm BST15:14

GOAL! QPR 1-1 Liverpool (Vargas, 86)

Rangers exert pressure via set-piece, and Liverpool can’t quite clear their lines, Rangers cleverly taking care to maintain the pressure by keeping play alive. Then, on the right of the box, Vargas nips by Enrique and nips in an outside-of-the-foot cross, which he follows while Enrique frolics. So, when the ball’s nodded back across the face superbly by Austin, Vargas is on-hand and un-marked to tuck home.

Updated at 4.03pm BST

3.14pm BST15:14

85 min Liverpool break at screeching pace, and it’s four-on-four, the ball finding it’s way to Balotelli, inside of the box and cutting further in, right-to-left. There are plenty of passes on, but he elects to shoot, firing low into the studs of McCarthy.

Updated at 3.26pm BST

3.12pm BST15:12

84 min Rangers are a threat again, and when a right-wing corner is only half-cleared, it’s nodded back over the advancing line. Traore is there, waiting for the ball to drop, and elected to head rather volley - a mistake, as it turns out, because even though he’s only five or so yards out, he can’t contort his neck to impart the power that will beat Mignolet, who pushes away comfortably enough.

3.09pm BST15:09

82 min Stone-cold Charlie Austin rushes Skrtel wide on the left, forcing a foul - and earning a free-kick, thirty yards out. Tall folk advance, but Mignolet decides he’s coming, and punches well, giving Skrtel one as well - perhaps he’ll concentrate harder next time.

3.06pm BST15:06

80 min Karl Henry perambulates through the back of Joe Allen, his 42nd foul of the afternoon. He is booked.

3.05pm BST15:05

79 min Vargas is on for Zamora, who, for 45 minutes was brilliant. I’m a little surprised, though, that Redknapp didn’t withdraw him earlier. in the meantime, a brilliant late sliding tackle from Caulker nudges the ball away from Sterling - who’s been very good in the second half.

3.04pm BST15:04

78 min “My wife will be on the plane now.”

“Is she going on her holidays?”“No, she’s taking three-eighths of an inch of the bottom of the bathroom door.”

Thanks you Phil Thorp, that could well be the worst so far.

Updated at 3.10pm BST

3.03pm BST15:03

75 min Rangers threaten for the first time in time, Zamora - who’s been marginalised well this half - holding up and laying off for Austin. He opens his body, looking for the far corner, but, telegraphing his intentions, he’s too far out and can’t impart sufficient power to seriously mither Mignolet.

3.01pm BST15:01

73 min Balotelli chases Johnson’s lump, bearing down on goal with Caulker behind him. A lever in the back is enough to send him sprawling, and it’s probably a penalty - except there was insufficient violence involved, so Gary Neville thinks not.

3.00pm BST15:00

71 min “All this talk of Rodgers being the next Big Thing in British Football Management is sounding quite unreasonable”, reckons Kiran Kulkarni. “It was rather Suarez who carried Liverpool on his shoulders alone most of the season. It was the goal scoring spree of his that proved to be the difference between Liverpool & the likes of Norwich or a team like QPR and not the ‘One-to-one Man Management skills’ of Rodgers which Gerrard claims to be the best. Rodgers has also been quite senseless in the case of signing Balotelli. Someone like Jordan Rhodes or even the likes of Diafra Sakho or Pelle are more profitable than that spoilt brat. Get rid of Balotelli at the very first opportunity & get couple of proper ‘Adult Professionals’ or brace yourself for few more seasons of mid-table mediocrity.”

I don’t agree, I’m afraid. The job he’s done with Sterling has been exceptional, so to the way he taught him a new position, rearranged his formation to accomodate Sturridge and Suarez, changed formation in games to get a result, developed Henderson - and more. But it’s fair to challenge his record in the transfer market, and, more specifically, how astute he is at arranging a defence.

2.58pm BST14:58

69 min I suppose the question is whether Rangers have the mental steel to play with this intensity every week. If they do, they’ll be fine.

2.54pm BST14:54

GOAL! QPR 0-1 Liverpool (Dunne o.g. 67)

Dear oh dear oh Dunne; the prolific Dunne. Traore fouls Sterling, so the referee awards a free-kick. Affronted by injustice, Rangers cease paying attention, so the ball goes short to Johnson while complaining continues, and his low cross is inepted in by Dunne, Balotelli lurking behind him. Brendan Rodgers celebrates as though he himself raced onto the pitch, beat 5,409 men and smashed in an overhead kick from the edge of his own box.

Updated at 3.10pm BST

2.53pm BST14:53

67 min Coutinho is immediately involved, skating through midfield and spreading wide for Sterling, who convulses into space and finds Johnson. His cross is low and hard- and Dunne does brilliantly to extend a toe in front of Balotellis at the near post.

2.52pm BST14:52

66 min Coutinho replaces Lallana, Allen replaces Can. Liverpool look favourites now.

2.51pm BST14:51

63 min “My wife’s gone to Alaska”

“Juno?”“I dunno. Alaska”

Thank you Geoff Ashworth.

2.50pm BST14:50

61 min OH I SAY! This is an epochal miss from Balotelli! Sterling weaves forwards at inside-right and looks for Balotelli ahead of him, opening his body to dart a low ball across the width of the box. But it clips Calker’s heel en route, meeting the stride of Lallana, whose instashot is pushed out but not away by McCarthy. Tim metaphorically pauses; Balotelli is five yards out, waiting for the ball to drop, waiting to knock it into the gaping net. Balotelli actually shins it over the top; Still no league goals for Liverpool.

Updated at 2.50pm BST

2.47pm BST14:47

61 min Ministry of Ouch

Steven Gerrard half by numbers: 0 chances created 0 tackles won 0 interceptions 0 shots on target 68% pass accuracy. pic.twitter.com/JoUY0JWm5Q

2.46pm BST14:46

60 min Sandro is hurt, so Traore and Krancjar warm up with intent. Redknapp goes for the pace and aggression of the former, rather than the silk and hunk of the latter.

2.45pm BST14:45

58 min Sterling drills a delicious pass crossfield at Johnson, a move that ends with Can drilling a shot wide. And then Johnson cuts inside again, his intentions smothered and foiled - but Redknapp will act, I expect, because for the first time, his team aren’t in command.

2.43pm BST14:43

55 min After a few minutes without much, QPR find Austin in behind, Lovren hanging off his shoulder. Right of centre, by the time the ball drops, the angle is acudte as, so he squeezes an oblique effort that squirts across the face of goal.

2.41pm BST14:41

54 min Okay, the last minute or so, Liverpool have connected a few passes, the move ending when Johnson nashes in off the touchline and prepares to wallop a 20-yarder, left-footed, into the top corner. He drags it wide.

2.40pm BST14:40

53 min It’s beginning to look like Liverpool just aren’t going to improve - which does not speak highly of Rodgers’ contribution today. They may of course still win - they’ve several players capable of transcending the pattern of the game - but the flow is yet to alter.

2.38pm BST14:38

51 min “He can persevere with Balotelli because he’s still a talent...” quotes a nauseated Chris Healy. “That’s being charitable Daniel. Balotelli didn’t look like he had much talent when he shot wide just before half time. Liverpool have been poor every game Balotelli has started this season and have lost most of them too. At least they won when they started against West Brom with Lambert.”

You can’t boil down ability to one incident - Balotelli has proven himself a good player. The way to get the most from him is to pick him, sos he can get to know the style of the team and those around him.

2.36pm BST14:36

50 min “Jakarta? No, she got her skates on”, retorts Mik Woolley. Steven Gerrard is playing a little deeper, presumably to get “in and around” Zamora.

2.35pm BST14:35

48 min How quickly things can change. Sterling springs, and Liverpool fan forwards, the ball making its way to Henderson, galloping at inside-right. He tries a shot, that flies wide of the near post.

2.35pm BST14:35

48 min Yet another near thing, and what a save from Mignolet! Phillips finds easy possession deep in the Liverpool half and out on the right touchline. No one is remotely mithered to close him down, so, when he’s ready - and only when he’s ready - he nips in a square ball for Sandro, who crunches a low drive towards the far corner. But Mignolet is off early, and blocks it clear.

2.33pm BST14:33

47 min “Can I just mention that I am NOT watching this in Jakarta,” emails Python and Palace fan, Mik Woolley. “I’m sorry, we probably haven’t got time for that.”

Jakarta? No, you went of your own accord.

2.31pm BST14:31

46 min We go again.

2.31pm BST14:31

So, Phillips replaces the injured Onuoha. Isla goes to right back, Phillips goes to right-midfield.

2.29pm BST14:29

“How can Rodgers persevere any longer with Balotelli?” semi-asks Chris Healy. “He’s once again been totally inept in every aspect of play. Lambert has to be a better option for the second half, at least he will surely try harder. Gerrard too has been pretty poor. Lovren and Skrtel are being made to look like Sunday league players but they have all season so I don’t know why I expected anything better.”

He can persevere with Balotelli because he’s still a talent, because he’s got no better options, because the season’s only just started, and because ego. I wonder if he quite knew the kind of player he was signing - and it’d be interesting to hear him explain how he plans to get the best out of him.

2.25pm BST14:25

Strewth, crivens and egad. Sandro earned that studded pelvis during the aforementioned pile-on. As he and Austin attempted to score, Johnson hurtled into his body, feet above head. If the officials have seen that, or chosen to act upon it, that’s a penalty and red card.

2.24pm BST14:24

“I think they’ll have a rocket up their you-know-what”, says Kevin Phillips of Liverpool.

“Yes I do, retorts Ed Chamberlain, lets anyone assume he was ignorant of the metaphor.

2.22pm BST14:22

Email: “Has there been a better one man team than Liverpool last season?” asks Rajiv.

That’s not entirely accurate - when he was out at the start, Sturridge ensured that he wasn’t missed, and at various times, Henderson, Gerrard, Sterling and Rodgers were either crucial or decisive.

Anyhow, it’s impossible to replace what they lost - but probable that Rodgers hasn’t done a great job of minimising it.

2.18pm BST14:18

HALF-TIME: QPR 0-0 LIVERPOOL

Great half for Rangers, useless half for Liverpool, same outcome for both.

2.17pm BST14:17

45 min Liverpool break with Sterling on the zigzag, and Lallana and Gerrard are up too. So Balotelli drags a hopeful shot from distance bare wide of the near post. Consternation doth ensue.

2.16pm BST14:16

44 min And Liverpool so nearly skank a lead! Enrique darts a sharp one into Balotelli’s feet, and with one touch of class, he feathers around the corner into the path of Gerrard. Caulker back off and backs off, as Gerrard ploughs into the box, and though a swivel left doesn’t quite work, it gives him the angle to flip back right, opening the angle to push one across McCarthy and into the far corner. But his judgment is off by centimetres, the ball scooting just wide.

2.13pm BST14:13

43 min Aiming for the far corner populated by the keeper, Zamora tries to stun one over the wall and in, but it’s over the bar and plenty.

2.12pm BST14:12

42 min Zamora is just doing as he pleases, winning yet another header on the right edge of the box. The ball is laid back for Sandro, and panicked, Can introduces studs to midsection, at the cost of a free-kick, 25 yards out.

2.10pm BST14:10

40 min Martin Tyler thinks that Liverpool’s success last season wasn’t “based on Suarez and Sturridge”. Not sure how that can possibly be thought - others played well, sure, and Rodgers managed superbly - but those two made it all possible.

2.09pm BST14:09

38 min This is a real test for Brendan Rodgers, as well as Liverpool. Can he alter the flow of the game at the break? He’s not exactly replete with options, so will need to talk fast.

Updated at 2.09pm BST

2.07pm BST14:07

37 min Sandro has stud marks on his pelvis. We know this because he has been displaying the aforementioned to no one and anyone. And there he is, bursting forward to pagga a shot from 25 yards, blocked by Lovren.

2.06pm BST14:06

34 min QPR are excellent! Liverpool are putrid! A long ball finds Zamora on the right edge of the box, and, unchallenged, he caresses it on his chest. He then tries a low cross, which Skrtel kindly returns directly to his instep. So, he retreats slightly, skips into a turn, and this time lofts one into the middle. Fer is up, so Mignolet elects to barrel out of his goal, David James-style. He gets nowhere near anything, the ball clatters the bar, and won’t quite bounce for Austin on the line in the ensuing pile-on, Skrtel eventually miscuing to safety.

Updated at 3.07pm BST

2.03pm BST14:03

32 min Apparently, Les Ferdinand is QPR’s Head of Operations. He’s good with a scalpel, apparently.

2.02pm BST14:02

30 min “But do Real Madrid have anyone as good as Bobby Zamora up front?” asks Gary Naylor.

Not unless they sign Charlie Austin.

2.00pm BST14:00

28 min Leroy Fer, that is exceptional! Isla finds Zamora haring down the right, in behind Lovren - he’s having a superb afternoon. And this is, in and of itself, superb - with the various men heading for the near post, he slides into a pull back that arrives perfectly into the stride of the nashing Fer. Everyone waits for the snap of foot on ball on net. It fails to materialise. Foot still snaps ball, ball then snaps angle. Oh my days, that is a miss.

Updated at 2.00pm BST

1.57pm BST13:57

26 min QPR have had all the play here, but only created one chance - so Liverpool have defended fairly well. Then, Balotelli finds a little space, on the left edge of the box, and he steps away from goal, outside his man, seeking the angle for a shot. He lets one go, but it’s deadened Dunne’s block.

Updated at 1.57pm BST

1.54pm BST13:54

24 min Suk-Young seizes on a loose ball from Lallana, and spying Austin and Zamora nashing into space ahead of him, smashes it into a previously undiscovered dimension.

1.53pm BST13:53

23 min Did you know? Liverpool are playing Real Madrid this week.

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1.52pm BST13:52

20 min A long ball - a long pass - from Can, I think - catches Caulker and Dunne stepping up, and finds Henderson in between them. He catches it as he leaps, on his right instep, then checks in its pursuit, ready to finish. The flag duly goes up, but he was a couple of yards onside. Sam Allardyce will be pleased.

1.49pm BST13:49

18 min I wonder if Brendan Rodgers is tempted to make an adjustment, or inclined to assume that class will out. In the meantime, a nice little triangle down the right between Johnson, Gerrard ad Balotelli - it doesn’t get them anything, but seems the first time they’ve connected more than a couple of passes in the final third.

1.46pm BST13:46

16 min Liverpool have so far mustered the cube root of minus infinity.

1.45pm BST13:45

14 min Sandro shrugs off a challenge and unfurls a diagonal ball, left-to-right, over the head of Lovren for Zamora. It looks as though it’s running behind, but Zamora prances into the air and catches it on his left toe, keeping it in and laying back. Berbamora.

1.43pm BST13:43

12 min Nice exchange of passes between Fer and Suk-Young along the left flank - and with the latter bursting into the space, Sterling does very to insert his body between him and the ball without conceding a free-kick.

1.41pm BST13:41

9 min But there’s one! Austin espies a loose ball prior to anyone in Liverpool’s midfield and charges in its pursuit, bursting through an insipid dangle from Johnson, after which Skrtel presented his posterior, missing everything. Suddenly in, left side of the box, Austin takes a heavy touch, inviting Mignolet out of his goal, and with the angle thusly narrowed, all he can try is a poke with the outside of his right foot, which is diverted clear by the keeper’s studs.

1.39pm BST13:39

9 min It’s all Rangers at the moment - Liverpool can’t get hold of the ball in midfield. No proper chances yet, mind.

1.38pm BST13:38

7 min More pleasantness from Rangers, Onuoha getting things going and finding Isla, who teases Enrique inside and out on the right touchline. But, just when it looks as though he’s worked the space for a cross, his man snaps back and blocks behind. The corner comes to nowt.

1.36pm BST13:36

5 min QPR look confident and composed - Fer swishes in and out of two challenges and finds Zamora, who lays off intelligently, Isla then drawing a foul from Enrique. The free-kick comes to nothing, but, while the scores are level at least, Rangers aren’t going to roll over.

1.34pm BST13:34

4 min Another knockdown - this time following a free-kick, clipped forward by Onuoha, on halfway and wide left. Caulker rises and diverts the ball downwards, into the path of Sandro, who lunges after it - but it skips off the turf, and into the warm clasp of Mignolet.

1.33pm BST13:33

3 min Suk-Young humps one long, in the direction of Zamora, who peels off Lovren, then nods down for Austin. On the edge of the box, Austin is forced to retreat slightly to curl his body around the shot, connecting well enough, but unable to keep it down.

1.32pm BST13:32

2 min Gerrard is playing behind Balotelli - the position in which he had his most productive, and probably best season, in 2008-09.

1.31pm BST13:31

2 min Apparently:

a) Loftus Road is a small ground; and

b) Mario Balotelli plays for Liverpool.

1.30pm BST13:30

1 min Beginning: Liverpool

1.30pm BST13:30

Cameramen surround Harry Redknapp. He smizes, works his angles, and finds the light.

1.28pm BST13:28

“A clash between the Rs and the Reds, we can expect a sterling encounter.”

Never has the most unwelcome of breaks been more welcome.

1.26pm BST13:26

Out march the players, QPR led by Bobbyforengland Zamora, to give him his full name from his Fulham days. All perform football clapping.

1.25pm BST13:25

Back in tha day 3:

27 years ago yesterday, QPR travelled to Anfield top of the league - admittedly, only because jiggered underfloor heating meant that Liverpool had played fewer games. And, inspired by their new signing, John Barnes, they disburse a hiding for the ages.

1.14pm BST13:14

Jordan Henderson seems a nice fellow. He’s honest about his talents and his limitations, and just explained that when he arrived at Liverpool, he needed to improve tactically and technically. Also:

“Has the thought occurred that had you not been sent-off [against Manchester City], you could be a Premier League champion?”

“I don’t think so.”

Updated at 1.14pm BST

1.11pm BST13:11

Back in tha day 2:

For a few weeks in 1990, Simon Barker was where it was at.

1.07pm BST13:07

Back in tha day:

An absurd Milk Cup quarter-final from 1986, including own-goals and missed penalties. Rangers are one-up from the first leg...

1.05pm BST13:05

Richard Dunne for Rio Ferdinand, rearranging the speedhumps on the motorway. Ferdinand has a groin strain, one of five changes for Rangers. Robert Green has tonsillitis, but the others alterations are tactical, and include Suk-Young making his Premier League debut, as well as McCarthy, Green’s understudy. In interview, Redknapp praises himself for playing two up-front, against the vogue, and says they’ll be having a go at Liverpool.

Talking of whom, Emre Can returns after injuring himself last international weekend - he takes Coutinho’s place. Whether his presence will be as one of three deep-lyers remains to be seen - it might liberate Gerrard, or see Henderson shunted right. Otherwise, Johnson replaces Manquillo and Enrique is in for the injured Moreno.

Updated at 1.27pm BST

12.57pm BST12:57

Wa teams:

QPR (3 including Dunne-5-2): McCarthy; Isla, Onuoha, Dunne, Caulker, Suk-young; Sandro, Fer, Henry; Austin, Zamora.

Subs: Murphy, Traore, Ferdinand, Phillips, Kranjcar, Hoilett, Vargas.

Liverpool (A 4-3-3, perhaps?): Mignolet; Johnson, Skrtel, Lovren, Enrique’ Gerrard, Can, Henderson; Lallana, Balotelli, Sterling.

Subs: Jones, Toure, Coutinho, Lambert, Manquillo, Allen, Markovic.

Updated at 1.11pm BST

12.48pm BST12:48

Hell’s bells, people are still talking about Raheem Sterling. So:

1. Work is tiring.

2. Elite sport is physically and mentally draining.

3. Constant travel is draining.

4. Peaking twice a week is draining.

5. Playing football is an incredible buzz.

6. Playing football for your country is an incredible buzz.

7. Raheem Sterling loves playing football.

8. Raheem Sterling has sacrificed his youth to succeed as a footballer.

9. Fatigue and income are unrelated.

10. Players have a duty to themselves, their clubs and their countries to preserve their minds and bodies.

12.30pm BST12:30

Preamble. Often, things that, on the face of it, appear dissimilar, turn out, on closer inspection, to be rather similar. “Food” and “street food”, for example, “market” and “farmers’ market”, “life” and “death”.

Likewise Harry Redknapp and Brendan Rodgers: old skool versus nu skool, instinct versus insight, triffic versus tactics.

Yet, both feel that they receive insufficient credit for their work, and both are keen to credit themselves for their work. Both have presided over significant improvement in players under their management, both have the ability to communicate and inspire.

Now, both are under pressure. Though Redknapp’s side only sneaked promotion, their struggles since have still been surprising. And even more than that, it’s hard not to conclude that much of this is his fault; it seems scarcely possible to extract less from his team than he is managing, the current sum of its parts somehow adding up to a minus.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have played well perhaps once in ten attempts. Entry into the European Cup was not an end in itself, and now, they face a fight to remain in it beyond its opening stage. While, in the meantime, their prospects of returning for a second shy are anything but assumed. Brilliantly though Rodgers coached last season, his astute adjustments were underpinned and overlaid by the league’s best player. Now - and just like Redknapp - his performance in the transfer market is under scrutiny. For both, this game is crucial.

Kick-off: 1.30pm