Liverpool v QPR preview: Rangers in need of Anfield shock

Queens Park Rangers travel to Liverpool on Saturday with just four games left to accumulate enough points to avoid relegation to the Championship.

Chris Ramsey's side were held to a goalless draw by West Ham at Loftus Road last weekend and upturns in form for both Leicester and Hull of late mean they are now four points from safety.

They will take encouragement from the fact their hosts are struggling themselves of late and have failed to score in each of their last two games against bottom half opposition.

Indeed, Liverpool have very little to play for in the final weeks of the season after the defeat to Hull on Tuesday ended any realistic prospects of sneaking into the Champions League places.

Brendan Rodgers’ side must now look to hold off Tottenham and Southampton to secure the rather dubious consolation prize of Europa League qualification.

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Team news

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva returns from a thigh injury to rejoin the squad after missing the last three matches.

Striker Mario Balotelli is ruled out with a foot injury sustained in Tuesday's defeat at Hull while defender Jon Flanagan is sidelined for at least six months after undergoing another knee operation.

Centre-back Mamadou Sakho is still missing with a hamstring problem while fellow defender Alberto Moreno is expected to have recovered from the knock which kept him out of Tuesday's game.

Zamora is hoping to rid himself of a long-standing hip problem for the trip to Anfield while Fer, who came off the bench against West Ham last weekend, is fit again after recovering from a knee injury.

Rio Ferdinand is unlikely to feature despite returning to training this week while Eduardo Vargas and Alejandro Faurlin (both knee) remain sidelined.

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Opta facts

Philippe Coutinho has scored in both of his Barclays Premier League games against QPR.

QPR have picked up seven points away from home in their last five Premier League away games after accruing none in their first 11 on the road this season.

Liverpool have won 19 and lost just one of 22 home league games against QPR.

QPR have allowed their opponents more shots on target against them than any other team in the top flight (183).

Liverpool have won just four points from their last five Premier League games (W1 D1 L3); only Burnley (1) and Newcastle (0) have won fewer in their last five matches.

Queens Park Rangers have won just two of their last 17 Premier League matches (D4 L11).

Merson's prediction

Liverpool are struggling of late - the mid-season surge counts for very little now - but I think they'll win this. QPR needed to win against West Ham last week, and that will have hurt, especially having missed a penalty. 

The season is over for Liverpool, and QPR will have to come out and win the game - there is no use in them drawing - so it will be an entertaining football match. But the hosts will have too much for them if Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling find some space in behind.

PAUL PREDICTS 2-1 (15/2 on Sky Bet)

Betting

Liverpool’s odds on finishing in the top four drifted out to 20/1 following their defeat to Hull, but they’re expected to bounce back with a win over QPR. The hosts are 1/3 to collect all three points, with QPR big outsiders at 8/1 to win and 4/1 to draw. The visitors are clinging on to their Premier League status and, at 1/33 to be relegated, it’s difficult to see them staying up (11/1). Meanwhile, Liverpool legend and Sky Bet tipster Phil Thompson has backed Philippe Coutinho to score first in a 2-0 win for the hosts at 22/1 with Sky Bet.