Final, 1-0 Liverpool: Liverpool banished Monday’s loss to Fulham to history by dispatching QPR with ease. The one-goal difference could have been much greater, were it not for a string of saves Cerny made throughout the game.
The Reds were solid defensively, although their visitors posed little threat for the entire contest. Their passing was composed and fluid, leading to a number of scoring chances.
It was a disapointing display from Rangers. They cannot be faulted for their defense-first approach, but, aside from 15 minutes in the second half, they never looked like they wanted to possess the ball at any point. Their veteran attackers — Barton, Wright-Phillips, Bothroyd and Smith — have the quality to create chances against top teams, but did not show it at Anfield.
Suarez was full of joy after ending a nearly six-week long goal drought in the 47th minute. He had a couple of scoring chances denied in the first half and a lesser talent may have rued his bad luck, dropped his head and suffered for it. That was not the case for the Uruguayan star.
His partnership with Maxi and Kuyt produced a string of opportunities. Their interchange and movement was far too much for QPR defenders to handle.
Also, Adam popped forward with timely runs and accurate passes. His assist will remind everyone of his good work. It’s just one of many quality performances he’s delivered over the last month or so.
Downing did well in his return to the starting 11. His passing was accurate and he tormented Rangers’ fullbacks all afternoon. Skrtel and Agger were superb in central defense — again.
That’s all for now and thanks for joining us. Let’s discuss this one on Twitter @NESNsoccer and Facebook. Be sure to keep an eye out for some news, fan reactions, analysis and opinion that is on the way on NESN.com.
94th minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Wright-Phillips deflects Bellamy’s cross onto the bar. He was tracking back and was nearly punished with an own goal.
93rd minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Enrique heads a cross out just before Orr could get his head to it. Nothing comes from the corner.
90th minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Reds almost caught QPR going forward as the clock ticks past 90 minutes.
If they can keep the ball and used it wisely for the next three minutes, they’ll take a well-deserved three points from this one.
87th minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Shelvey comes on for Downing as Dalglish looks to lock up the game with only a few minutes left to play.
84th minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Young is raging at Suarez after he won a free kick near the QPR area. He thinks Suarez went down to easily. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before.
Bellamy drives the free kick into the side netting.
78th minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Bellamy enters for Maxi, who is applauded off the field by the Anfield faithful. He reciprocates as he heads for the bench.
He easily could have scored two or three today, if not for Cerny’s standout performance.
76th minute, 1-0 Liverpool: On cue, Rangers have grown in confidence in the last five minutes. They’re attacking in numbers and look a bit fresher than the Reds thanks to the two substitutions they’ve made. Reina punched a corner clear.
It may be time for Dalglish to introduce some fresh legs into his team.
73rd minute, 1-0 Liverpool: There are some nervous groans at Anfield as supporters are treated to a familiar sight. Liverpool is completely in control of the game, but still only one goal ahead thanks to another top performance by an opposing goalkeeper. All it would take is another momentary lapse in concentration for QPR to steal a goal.
The remaining 15 minutes wouldn’t leave much time for LFC to hit the winner.
67th minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Maxi and Suarez combine near the top of the area with a quick interchange that sends the Argentine in alone. Cerny is quick off his line and denys Maxi’s shot.
64th minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Reds continue to press and prod for that second goal. Kuyt volleys a shot low that Cerny gets down well to save.
61st minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Maxi’s shot from eight yards out draws a great save from Cerny. Suarez received a pass in the area, beat a defender and found Maxi’s run with well-placed delivery from the by-line.
57th minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Kuyt pulls his shot just wide of Cerny’s near post from the arc. He’s been sitting on 49 league goals for a while now. That shot was close to a half century.
54th minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Skrtel tackles the ball from Bothroyd in the Liverpool area. There was contact, but no real appeal for a penalty.
QPR has to get into the game and use its quality going forward. It will leave the visitors exposed at the back, but a 1-0 loss leaves them as empty as a 3-0 loss — in theory at least.
48th minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Shortly after the goal, Ferdinand goes down injured and leaves the game. Orr comes on for him and Young partners Gabbidon in central defense.
47th minute, 1-0 Liverpool: Suarez ends his goal drought with a thumping header from close range.
Adam tricked Wirght-Phillips from the left of the area and found Suarez with a right footed cross. Traore jumped (poorly) in vain and Suarez was unmarked in the six-yard box to easily head it in. It’s his first EPL goal since Oct. 1, when he scored at Everton.
Halftime, 0-0: The First half ends scoreless, but Downing tested Cerny with a low drive to the near post before the whistle.
Liverpool has dominated the game so far, but heads for the locker room with nothing to show for it.
It’s always difficult to attack a defense that packs numbers into its own area, and the Reds have done as good a job as they could hope in doing so. They’ve varied both the tempo and point of attack to create chances, but Cerny has been alert and perfectly positioned to deny their best efforts.
The visitors have offered nothing going forward so far. They were limited to just two long-range efforts from Wright-Phillips and Feurlin. One has to think that will change in the second act.
42nd minute, 0-0: Cerny comes up with another save against Suarez. Downing ghosted past Traore in the midfield and found the Uruguayan in the area.
Suarez looked to chip Cerny from the near post, but the goalkeeper was ready for that bit of improvisation.
34th minute, 0-0: QPR has decided it can’t defend the entire half and pushes forward. Adam exploits the space by going on a solo surge through the midfield and defense, winning a corner kick in the end.
Lucas or no Lucas, Adam knows his creative ability is key to the Liverpool attack. He’s made a number of runs with the ball this season that have created scoring chances for his team. It’s a welcome surprise as he was known for his passing and ability to strike a dead ball before he came to Anfield.
31st minute, 0-0: Liverpool catches QPR with numbers going forward and nearly scores the opener. Kuyt provided Maxi with the opportunity with a perfectly placed through ball from midfield. The veteran attacker got behind Gabbidon, took a couple of touches and hit his shot low toward the far post. Cerny made a very good save to keep the game scoreless.
29th minute, 0-0: Henderson slices his shot high and wide in his first foray into the attack. He’s been working on his goal scoring in training but that one was a poor reflection of the extra work. He just seemed to rush the shot.
26th minute, 0-0: Suarez, Kuyt and Maxi shoulder the responsibility of cracking the bunkered Rangers defense. They’ll need more supporting runs from Adam, Henderson and Downing. When the attacking trio have the ball near the QPR area, they’re always outnumbered and lacking outlets. Enrique must push forward more than he has.
21st minute, 0-0: Suarez is brought down in the box by Gabbidon but there’s no call.
20th minute, 0-0: The Reds seem to lack that little bit of sharpness around the QPR area so far. They’re controlling the tempo and possession, but can’t find the right placement on the shot or the right weight on a pass to a teammate. QPR may not have touched the ball in the Liverpool half.
15th minute, 0-0: Suarez goes in on goal but is intercepted at the last moment by a defender. It was a nice interchange between Suarez and Maxi that opened the space in the QPR area.
11th minute, 0-0: It’s interesting to see Downing deployed on the right. Maybe Dalglish likes him in the matchup against young fullback Traore. It could also be that Maxi, Kuyt and Suarez are interchanging in the front and on the right. We’ll keep an eye on that.
10th minute, 0-0: Downing crosses to an unmarked Suarez from the right, but his header is on target and QPR’s third-string keeper Cerny saves it comfortably.
Ninth minute, 0-0: We’re going to pay close attention to Henderson’s game today. It is a chance for him to manage the game from his preferred position.
Fourth minute, 0-0: Maxi is down on the field after Feurlin grazed him in the shins with his studs.
Third minute, 0-0: Reds apply the early pressure. Two corners in the first minute produce nervy moments for the visitors but come to nothing.
Pregame: Downing and Maxi make their returns to Liverpool’s starting 11 and Bellamy and Carroll start on the bench.
The rest of the LFC team looks settled and should deliver what we’ve come to expect in recent weeks.
QPR looks like it will have some punch going forward. Barton and Wright-Phillips will spearhead much of the Rangers attack, with Bothroyd and Smith looking to benefit from the creativity of the aforementioned duo.
9:30 a.m.: Here are the lineups
Liverpool
Pepe Reina (25), goalkeeper
Glen Johnson (2), right back
Daniel Agger (5), center back
Martin Skrtel (37), center back
Jose Enrique (3), left back
Charlie Adam (26), midfielder
Stuart Downing (19), midfielder
Jordan Henderson (14), midfielder
Dirk Kuyt (18), midfielder
Maxi (11), forward
Luis Suarez (7), forward
Substitutes
Doni (32), goalkeeper
Jamie Carragher (23), defender
Martin Kelly (34), defender
Sebastian Coates (16), defender
Jonjo Shelvey (33), midfielder
Craig Bellamy (39), forward
Andy Carroll (9), striker
Queens Park Rangers
Radek Cerny (24), goalkeeper
Luke Young (18), right back
Danny Gabbidon (6), center back
Anton Ferdinand (35), center back
Armand Traore (13), left back
Alejandro Feurlin (11), midfielder
Jamie Mackie (12), midfielder
Shaun Wright-Phillips (32), midfielder
Joey Barton (17), midfielder
Jay Bothroyd (10), striker
Tommy Smith (21), striker
Substitutes
Clint Hill (3), defender
Matthew Connolly (16), defender
Bradley Orr (2), defender
Jason Puncheon (42), midfielder
Shaun Derry (4), midfielder
Akos Buzsaky (14), midfielder
D.J. Campbell (9), striker
12:00 a.m. ET: Liverpool looks to rebound from Monday’s blow with a win over Queens Park Rangers. Anfield has not been a fortress this season and the Reds know that must change if they are to achieve a top-four finish.
Newly-promoted QPR is off to a good start in its return to England’s top flight. Neil Warnock’s men are in 12th place in the EPL with 16 points from 12 games. Like each of this season’s newcomers, Rangers pose a threat to the Reds with a new group of players and an unfamiliar style of play. Kenny Dalglish is impressed by how Warnock has molded QPR into a formidable unit so quickly.
“He has done brilliantly and although they got off to a bad start, he has spent the money the new owner gave him wisely and they’ve kicked on,” he said. “They’re a formidable side, it’s great for him and I’m sure he’s enjoying himself. I look forward to having a drink with him after the game.”
The seventh-placed Reds fell behind England’s other top teams with a 1-0 loss to Fulham on Monday. Supporters would take a win over QPR as the perfect tonic for last game’s blues.
Jay Spearing’s dismissal gave Dalglish a headache in the midfield, but the Reds should be able to field a strong unit in that key area of the field. They have been solid defensively with Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger anchoring an effective backline. Luis Suarez and Craig Bellamy should be Liverpool’s focal points in the attack.
Join us at 10 a.m. ET for our Liverpool live blog. We’ll have all the action right here.
