Liverpool and QPR lock horns in the Premier League for the first time since the 2012/13 season on Saturday. That game, Liverpool won 1-0 through Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho scored the only goal from range.  In that season, Liverpool managed the double over QPR after beating them 3-0 at Loftus Road earlier in the campaign and Brendan Rodgers’ side will be looking to get a win ahead of their crucial Champions League game against Real Madrid on Wednesday as his side face seven games in the next 21 days.

Past Meetings

At Loftus Road, Liverpool have played QPR twenty-three times.  Liverpool have won 12 of the 23 boasting a 52% win percentage in West London, QPR have won just six and both sides have finished equal five times.

In the last four fixtures in the Premier League, Liverpool have won three of the four games (2012/13 - 1-0,0-3; 2011/12 - 1-0) in QPR’s one win in their last four came at Loftus Road where they pegged Liverpool back from 2-0 down and beat then manager Kenny Daglish’s side 3-2.

Liverpool have won five and lost just one of their last six league meetings with QPR, keeping a clean sheet in four of these games.

Current Form

The R's currently sit uncomfortably at the foot of the table with just four points from eleven games and have a hefty -11-goal difference. They could still get out of the bottom of the table with a win or draw but can’t escape the bottom two as Newcastle’s goal difference is +5 better than QPR’s and Sunderland who sit outside the bottom three have eight points.

QPR’s form this season in the Premier League goes as follows: LLWLDLL.

Pre Match Stats
(Opta)

After a run of 11 successive Premier League wins in between Feb-Apr, Liverpool have won just four of their last 10 matches in the competition (W4 D2 L4).

The Reds have kept just one clean sheet in their last 13 Premier League matches.

Manager-Harry Redknapp

Redknapp, who also labelled Liverpool as one of 'the best clubs in the world' commented on last season’s performance. "I thought they were great last year,"

"When they beat Man City I was sure they would win the league, then Chelsea went there and did a job on them and it took it away from them. I thought overall they deserved to win it last year.

"They have lost the fourth best player in the world in Suarez and it is difficult to replace him but they have got lots of good players there. Again, they are bedding in new players and it takes time,"

"We’re going to kick hell of out them on Sunday!” joked Redknapp. “We’ll steam right into this Liverpool and give them what for!”

If QPR were to lose the pressure would certainly build more despite R’s owner Tony Fernandes played down reports going to Twitter and saying "Just to prove Harry paid for dinner last night haha good chat, positive. We got to give it a go whatever the result."  Make of that what you will.

QPR Key Player

Charlie Austin

Striker Charlie Austin signed from Burnley in 2013 and the 6ft 2" Striker has scored half of the goals QPR have scored this season, bagging two goals. Although it is early in the season, it is evident to see that he hasn’t just been lucky for the Hoops.

The service upfront hasn’t been as up to scratch for him as he’d probably like, in comparison to last season in the Championship where he scored 17 in 31 games.  So far this season he has only created two chances for his side and his shot accuracy isn’t up to the standars of other firing strikers such as Southampton’s Graziano Pelle, who has scored four in seven and created eleven chances this season.

But that’s not to forget his striking presence and heading prowess of the former Burnley player, who will pose a big threat to Liverpool's leaky defence on Sunday.

Predicted Line Up

Joey Barton and Jordon Mutch will miss the visit of Liverpool on Sunday as they both remain sidelined with hamstring injuries also Niko Kranjcar is a doubt following his broken toe but Redknapp remains hopeful of a good result, and it's certainly not out of the question.

Potential starting line up (4-3-2-1)

Green; Isla, Ferdinand Caulker, Traore; Fer, Sandro, Harvey; Hoilett, Vargas; Austin.