QPR travel to Anfield on Saturday desperate for a victory against the odds. By way of inspiration, LFW looks back to their first and only win on this ground to date — a 3-1 success in 1991.

Recent Meetings

QPR restored pride and hope after a lousy start to the 2014/15 season, but still lost the home game with Liverpool in October in farcical circumstances. A 2-0 loss at West Ham in pitiful circumstances the previous week had put Harry Redknapp under pressure, but a switch to a direct style with Bobby Zamora starting in attack caught Liverpool's defence off-guard and Rangers were desperately unfortunate to lose the game. A series of chances went begging, and a penalty appeal for a foul non Sandro was waved away, so it looked like the visitors would win 1-0 despite spirited resistance when Richard Dunne turned Raheem Sterling's low cross into his own net in trademark style midway through the second half. But Eduardo Vargas sprang from the bench to reek havoc from the right wing, equalising with a close-range scissor kick four minutes from time. Rangers were caught on the counter attack in the last minute, and Coutinho's crisp finish seemed to have won the game for Brendan Rodgers' side but the R's fought back to equalise a second time when Vargas flicked a corner in at the near post two minutes into injury time. Ludicrously, criminally, QPR crafted a second own goal in the ninety fifth minute when Leroy Fer's poor free kick was cleared downfield and Raheem Sterling forced a mistake from Steven Caulker. Heartbreaking stuff.

QPR: McCarthy 7; Onuoha 8 (Phillips 46, 5), Caulker 6, Dunne 6, Suk-Young 8; Isla 7, Fer 6, Sandro 6 (Traore 60, 5), Henry 8, Zamora 8 (Vargas 79, 8), Austin 6

Subs not used: Ferdinand, Kranjcar, Murphy, Hoilett

Goals: Vargas 86 (assisted Austin), 90+2 (assisted Fer)

Bookings: Dunne 45+1 (foul), Henry 79 (repetitive fouling)

Liverpool: Mignolet 5; Johnson 5, Skrtel 5, Lovren 3, Enrique 6; Henderson 6, Can 5 (Allen 66, 7), Sterling 7 (Toure 90+6, -), Gerrard 6, Lallana 5 (Countinho 66, 8), Balotelli

Subs not used: Jones, Marquillo, Markovic, Lambert

Goals: Dunne og 67 (assisted Sterling), Coutinho 90 (assisted Gerrard), Caulker og 90+6 (assisted Sterling)

Bookings: Johnson 70 (foul), Skrtl 81 (foul), Coutinho 86 (obstructing free kick)

Liverpool 1 QPR 0, Sunday May 19, 2013, Premier League

QPR bowed out of their second stint in the Premier League with a 1-0 defeat at Anfield on the final day of the 2012/13 season. The day will always be remembered as Jamie Carragher’s last senior match for Liverpool, and he came within the width of a post of signing off with a spectacular 35 yard piledriver in the second half. In the end a low drive from Coutinho in the first haf was enough to settle a drab game, in which the debut of Michael Harriman and subsequent man of the match performance was the highlight for the visitors. Harriman has not played a single second of senior league football for QPR since.

Liverpool: Reina 6, Johnson 7, Carragher 7 (Coates 85, -), Skrtel 6, Enrique 6, Henderson 6, Lucas 6, Downing 6, Ibe 6 (Borini 64, 6), Coutinho 8 (Suso 74, 6), Sturridge 6

Subs not used: Jones, Wisdom, Coady, Assaidi

Goals: Coutinho 22 (assisted Ibe)

Bookings: Henderson 7 (foul)

QPR: Green 7, Harriman 7, Onuoha 7, Hill 6, Traore 6, Remy 6, Mbia 4 (Granero 46, 6), Derry 6, Park 5 (Hoilett 80, -), Townsend 6, Zamora 5 (Mackie 72, 6)

Subs not used: Murphy, Fabio, Ehmer, Bothroyd

Bookings: Hill 31 (foul), Derry 66 (foul), Townsend 71 (dissent)

QPR 0 Liverpool 3, Sunday December 30, 2012, Premier League
Arguably QPR’s worst 45 minutes of the dreadful 2012/13 season came against Liverpool at Loftus Road at the end of December. A win against Fulham prior to Christmas had provided hope but subsequent defeats to Newcastle and West Brom sapped confidence and Luis Suarez was able to run amok in this live Sky fixture with two goals in the first quarter of an hour. When a defensive calamity allowed Daniel Agger to make it three before the half hour a rout looked on the cards and Harry Redknapp sent on Shaun Derry for Djibril Cisse at half time — effectively shutting up shop to protect a three goal deficit.

QPR: Cesar 4, Onuoha 6, Nelsen 5, Hill 3, Traore 3, Wright-Phillips 2 (Da Silva 80, -), Diakite 2 (Granero 63, 3), Mbia 3, Mackie 4, Taarabt 4, Cisse 2 (Derry 46, 6)

Subs not used: Green, Ferdinand, Faurlin, Hoilett

Bookings: Mbia 56 (diving), Da Silva 90 (foul)

Liverpool: Reina 6, Johnson 7, Agger 7, Skrtl 7, Enrique 6 (Suso 71, 6), Allen 7 (Carragher 87, -), Henderson 8 (Lucas 64, 6), Gerrard 8, Downing 7, Sterling 6, Suarez 9

Subs not used: Gulacsi, Coates, Shelvey, Assaidi

Goals: Suarez 10 (assisted Henderson), 16 (assisted Downing), Agger 28 (assisted Gerrard)

Bookings: Leiva 82 (foul)

QPR 3 Liverpool 2, Wednesday March 21, 2012, Premier League

Last season’s home game with Liverpool will go down in history as one of the classic Loftus Road games. Rangers, fresh from a seemingly crushing defeat at relegation rivals Bolton, fell 2-0 behind to Kenny Dalglish’s men thanks to a fabulous scissor kicked volley from defender Sebastien Coates and a scrambled effort from Dirk Kuyt. With only 18 minutes left to play that looked like the end of the matter but Shaun Derry’s flying header from a corner — his first goal for five years — hauled QPR back into the game and when Taye Taiwo swung over a perfect cross five minutes from time Djibril Cisse was on hand to power home a fine header against his former club for the equaliser. Mark Hughes seemed happy with that point, urging his team to stay back and in shape for fear of losing a winning goal, and when the R’s were awarded a late free kick they committed only Bobby Zamora forward for it. Liverpool cleared but when Paddy Kenny returned the ball to their half Jose Enrique could only find Luke Young with a clearing header, and then he slipped trying to deal with the second ball which allowed Jamie Mackie to run through on goal and lift the roof off Loftus Road with a low finish into the net.

QPR: Kenny 7, Young 6, Onuoha 6, Ferdinand 6, Traore 7 (Taiwo 46, 7), Barton 3 (Mackie 62, 7), Derry 5, Diakite 7, Taarabt 6, Zamora 7, Cisse 7 (Buzsaky 88, -)

Subs Not Used: Cerny, Gabbidon, Bothroyd, Wright-Phillips

Goals: Derry 77 (assisted Taarabt), Cisse 86 (assisted Taiwo), Mackie 90 (assisted Young)

Liverpool: Reina 5, Kelly 6 (Coates 34, 6), Carragher 5, Skrtel 6, Jose Enrique 4, Kuyt 7, Spearing 7, Adam 6 (Henderson 46, 6), Downing 7, Gerrard 7, Suarez 7 (Carroll 82, 5)

Subs Not Used: Doni, Aurelio, Shelvey, Flanagan

Goals: Coates 54 (unassisted), Kuyt 72 (assisted Downing)

Liverpool 1 QPR 0, Saturday December 10, 2011, Premier League

Radek Cerny turned in an inspired display in the QPR goal at Anfield earlier that season, but couldn’t prevent the R’s slipping to a 1-0 defeat. Veteran Czech keeper Cerny, deputising for the injured Paddy Kenny, was in magnificent form throughout but was unfortunately beaten on one occasion by Luis Suarez and that was good enough for Kenny Dalglish’s side to take maximum points. Suarez stole a march on Luke Young immediately after half time and headed home from close range at the Kop End to seal a 1-0 win. Unfortunately QPR only really came into a dour game as an attacking force in the final five minutes when more ambition and urgency earlier in the game may have brought greater reward.

Liverpool: Reina 6, Johnson 7, Skrtel 7, Agger 7, Enrique 7, Maxi 7 (Bellamy 78, 6), Adam 7, Henderson 6, Downing 8 (Shelvey 86, -), Suarez 9, Kuyt 7

Subs Not Used: Doni, Carroll, Coates, Carragher, Kelly

Booked: Agger (foul), Bellamy (dissent)

Goals: Suarez 47 (assisted Adam)

QPR: Cerny 9, Young 6, Gabbidon 7, Ferdinand 7 (Orr 50, 6), Traore 7, Mackie 6 (Hill 78, 6), Barton 6, Faurlin 7, Wright-Phillips 6, Smith 5 (Campbell 66, 6), Bothroyd 6

Subs Not Used: Putnins, Derry, Buzsaky, Connolly

QPR 1 Liverpool 2, Sunday February 11, 1996, Premiership

Liverpool are one of those top flight mainstays that we’ve avoided in cup competitions since our 1996 relegation season and so Wednesday will be the first meeting between the clubs at Loftus Road since 1996. The R’s were staring the First Division square in the face when Roy Evans brought his side to W12 back then, Ray Wilkins’ men had lost six league games on the spin since Christmas and went into the Super Sunday clash extremely low on confidence. The game played out much as you would expect, with Liverpool cruising into a two goal lead in the first half before Danny Dichio gave the R’s false hope in the second. Although QPR did win the next match, 3-1 away at Sheff Wed, and rallied late in the season it wasn’t enough to save them from demotion.

QPR: J Sommer, D Bardsley, R Brevett, D Maddix, S Yates, S Barker, I Holloway, N Quashie, D Dichio, K Gallen, T Sinclair

Subs not used: G Goodridge, B Allen, T Challis

Goals: Dichio

Liverpool: D James, R Jones, P Babb, M Wright, J Scales, J McAteer, M Thomas, S McManaman, J Barnes, R Fowler (J Redknapp, 76), S Collymore

Subs not used: T Warner, I Rush

Goals: Wright, Fowler

Previous Results

2014/15 QPR 2 Liverpool 3 (Vargas 2)

2012/13 Liverpool 1 QPR 0

2012/13 QPR 0 Liverpool 3

2011/12 QPR 3 Liverpool 2 (Derry, Cisse, Mackie)

2011/12 Liverpool 1 QPR 0

1995/96 QPR 1 Liverpool 2 (Dichio)

1995/96 Liverpool 1 QPR 0

1994/95 Liverpool 1 QPR 1 (Gallen)

1994/95 QPR 2 Liverpool 1 (Ferdinand, Sinclair)

1993/94 Liverpool 3 QPR 2 (Ferdinand, Barker)

1993/94 QPR 1 Liverpool 3 (Wilkins)

1992/93 Liverpool 1 QPR 0

1992/93 QPR 0 Liverpool 1

1991/92 QPR 0 Liverpool 0

1991/92 Liverpool 1 QPR 0

1990/91 Liverpool 1 QPR 3 (Ferdinand, Wegerle, Wilson)

1990/91 QPR 1 Liverpool 1 (Falco)

1989/90 Liverpool 2 QPR 1 (Wegerle)

1989/90 Liverpool 1 QPR 0*

1989/90 QPR 2 Liverpool 2* (Wilkins, Barker)

1989/90 QPR 3 Liverpool 2 (Wright 2, Falco)

1988/89 Liverpool 2 QPR 0

1988/89 QPR 0 Liverpool 1

1987/88 QPR 0 Liverpool 1

1987/88 Liverpool 4 QPR 0

1986/87 Liverpool 2 QPR 1 (Fillery)

1986/87 QPR 1 Liverpool 3 (Bannister)

1985/86 Liverpool 4 QPR 1 (Rosenior)

1985/86 Liverpool 2 QPR 2** (Whelen og, Gillespie og)

1985/86 QPR 1 Liverpool 0** (Fenwick)

1985/86 QPR 2 Liverpool 1 (Fenwick, Bannister)

1984/85 QPR 0 Liverpool 2

1984/85 Liverpool 1 QPR 1 (Fereday)

1983/84 Liverpool 2 QPR 0

1983/84 QPR 0 Liverpool 1

1978/79 QPR 1 Liverpool 3 (Eastoe)

1978/79 Liverpool 2 QPR 1 (McGee)

1977/78 Liverpool 1 QPR 0

1977/78 QPR 2 Liverpool 0 (Bowles, James)

1976/77 QPR 1 Liverpool 1 (Givens)

1976/77 Liverpool 3 QPR 1 (Eastoe)

1975/76 Liverpool 2 QPR 0

1975/76 QPR 2 Liverpool 0 (G Francis, Leach)

1974/75 Liverpool 3 QPR 1 (G Francis)

1974/75 QPR 0 Liverpool 1

1973/74 Liverpool 2 QPR 1 (Thomas)

1973/74 QPR 2 Liverpool 2 (Bowles, McLintock)

1968/69 QPR 1 Liverpool 2 (Bridges)

1968/69 Liverpool 2 QPR 0

1913/14 Liverpool 2 QPR 1* (Mitchell)

* - FA Cup

** - League Cup

Memorable Match

The head to head record between these clubs speaks for itself — QPR have eight wins to Liverpool’s 34. That was largely due to a period through the 1980s when Liverpool dominated English football, and QPR struggled to even register a goal against them when the two sides met.

There had been notable success in 1986 when Rangers reached the League Cup final by beating the Reds over two legs in the semi final, a 2-2 draw at Anfield sealed by two own goals from Gary Gillespie and Ronnie Whelen saw the R’s to Wembley, but a first win on this ground remained elusive until 1991.

Liverpool, typically, were battling for the title against Arsenal and had gone top the week before with a 7-1 win against hapless Derby County. Rangers were therefore heavy underdogs despite the continued astute management of Don Howe, but they gave an indication of what was to come when a young Les Ferdinand collected possession after a tangle of legs between Gillespie, Sinton and Barker and fired a powerful drive which Mike Hooper the Liverpool goalkeeper had to tip over the bar. At the other end Ian Rush headed wide from close range after Peter Beardsley had reached the byline and cut a cross back into the six yard box.

As the first half progressed Andy Sinton fired over after being put clean through in the area by a glorious back flick from Ray Wilkins but the R’s had to muscle up in defence to clear a goalmouth scramble after Czech World Cup goalkeeper Jan Stejskal had made an excellent save to keep out Rush’s volley.

There was much talk in the press after the match about how poor Liverpool had been, and indeed when Les Ferdinand struck the outside of the post from an acute angle the move had begun when Glenn Hussein gave the ball away in his own half. But QPR were excellent on the day, directed around the park by Ray Wilkins and lead from the front by Ferdinand who was just starting to hint at what a super player he was going to become after a slow start to life at Loftus Road. With the ball still in play after Ferdinand’s first effort Simon Barker crossed deep into the area and the powerful striker got in front of his man to head home the opening goal in front of the travelling Rangers fans.

That lead was doubled on the stroke of half time with a goal entirely of Liverpool’s making. Steve Staunton played a lazy back pass to David Burrows on the edge of the area, he let it run under his foot to Hooper but Wegerle had read the situation in advance and rounded the goalkeeper before finishing high into the net from the corner of the six yard box.

Liverpool, especially at Anfield, were renowned for receiving favourable refereeing decisions in the same way that Manchester United are these days. Rangers have certainly been on the receiving end of some dodgy calls in matches against both teams, few quite as bad as the penalty kick awarded in this game which got Pool back into the match after half time. Rufus Brevett was clearly pushed in the back as he got to a bouncing ball first in the area but as he crashed to earth the referee claimed that he’d handled the ball and awarded a spot kick to the hosts which Jan Molby tapped home.

Liverpool sent on Ronny Rosenthal to hunt for an equaliser but Rangers scored a third at the Kop End when Ferdinand’s deep cross was miscontrolled at the back stick by Steve Nicol and Don Howe’s own substitute Clive Wilson nipped in, poked home and sealed a memorable three points. QPR’s first ever win at Anfield, Liverpool’s first home defeat of the season.

Liverpool: M.Hooper, G.Hysen, D.Burrows, S.Nicol, J.Molby, G.Ablett, P.Beardsley, R.Houghton, I.Rush, S.Staunton (R.Rosenthal), G.Gillespie

QPR: J.Stejskal, D.Bardsley, R.Brevett, A.Tillson, D.Peacock, D.Maddix, R.Wilkins, S.Barker, L.Ferdinand, R.Wegerle (B.Allen), A.Sinton (C.Wilson)

Highlights >>> QPR 2 Liverpool 1, 1994 >>> QPR 0 Liverpool 1 1992 >>> Liverpool 1 QPR 3 1991 >>> Liverpool 2 QPR 1, 1990 >>> QPR 2 Liverpool 2 FA Cup 1990 >>> QPR 3 Liverpool 2 (first half) 1989 >>> QPR 3 Liverpool 2 (second half) 1989 >>> Liverpool 4 QPR 0 1987 >>> League Cup semi final 1986 >>> QPR 1 Liverpool 1 1977 >>> Liverpool 3 QPR 1 1976 >>> QPR 2 Liverpool 0 1975

Connections

Michael Robinson >>> Liverpool 1983-1984 >>> QPR 1984-1986

Michael Robinson’s time at Loftus Road may have been brief, but a player who settles a League Cup quarter final against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in QPR’s favour with a goal from the halfway line is always going to be remembered fondly by the W12 faithful.

Robinson had come through the ranks at Second Division Preston North End initially but showed enough attacking ability and promise for Manchester City, under Malcolm Allison, to spend a whopping £750,000 on him. The price tag weighed heavy, his City career never took off, and he was sold to Brighton at a hefty loss before he’d even completed one campaign at Maine Road.

At the Goldstone Ground Robinson rebuilt his reputation as both a promising attacker and cup final regular. He was part of the Brighton side that ran Man Utd close in the 1983 FA Cup final, which they reached despite being relegated from the league that year. It was Robinson who fed the ball through for Gordon Smith’s famous miss in the final seconds of extra time in the first match, which finished 2-2, and he played again in the Wembley replay which they lost 4-0.

Robinson didn’t go down with Brighton, moving back north to Liverpool for £250,000 where he found himself behind Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush in the pecking order. He nevertheless made enough league appearances for a 1984 title winners medal, came on as a substitute in the League Cup final with Everton that finished 0-0 but missed out on the replay which Liverpool won, and appeared in the European Cup final success against Roma.

Some pedigree therefore to bring to QPR where he pitched up at the end of the season hunting for regular first team football. His goal against Chelsea helped take him back to Wembley as Rangers beat his old club Liverpool in the 1986 League Cup semi final to set up a final with Oxford for which they were heavy favourites, but then we all know what happened next there.

Robinson’s career then took a turn for the strange. He moved to Osasuna in Spain and became part of a team that finished fifth in La Liga in 1988, a fine achievement for a club of that size. Sammy Lee, another former QPR and Liverpool team mate, joined him out there but at 31 Robinson, having picked Spanish up easily, retired to a career in the country’s media. He has been a regular co-commentator and presenter of football coverage in the country since the 1990 World Cup in Italy and even did voiceover work on the Spanish version of Shrek, playing the part of the Ugly Sister.

He finished his career with 24 caps and four goals for the Republic of Ireland.

Others >>> Djirbil Cisse, Liverpool 2004-2006, QPR 2012-2013 >>>Raheem Sterling, QPR YT, Liverpool 2010-present >>> Peter Crouch, QPR 2000-2001, Liverpool 2005-2008 >>> Paul Jones, Liverpool (loan) 2004, QPR 2006-2007, Neil Ruddock, Liverpool 1993-1998, QPR (loan) 1998 >>> Mark Kennedy, Liverpool 1995-1998, QPR (loan) 1998 >>> Jim Magilton, Liverpool 1988-1990, QPR (manager) 2009 >>> Paul Walsh, Liverpool 1984-1988, QPR (loan) 1991 >>> Nigel Spackman, Liverpool 1987-1989, QPR 1989 >>> Jimmy Carter, QPR 1985-1987, Liverpool 1991 >>> Sammy Lee, Liverpool 1975-1986, QPR 1986-1987 >>> Bobby Campbell, Liverpool 1958-1961, QPR (coach) 1986-1988

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Pictures — Action Images

Photo: Action Images

TacticalR added 19:33 - May 1 Thanks. Great the way we kept the ball in play and the pressure up for the first goal in the win at Anfield.
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