QPR vs Liverpool – Preview

by  on  in All, Liverpool, Pre/Post Match, Pre&Post Match

After a two week long international break, the Premier League is back. Liverpool travel to Loftus Road to play Queens Park Rangers. Liverpool’s last game seen them pick up their first Premier League victory since late August, with a 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion. QPR, however, lost 2-0 to West Ham United.

Liverpool’s international break; injury-wise, turned out okay for them, in the end. There were scares with the injuries to Dejan Lovren and Lazar Markovic. However, Lovren’s injury doesn’t seem to be as bad as first feared. The Croatian is back in full training now. Markovic picked up an injury playing for Serbia, and there were reports of him being out for up to a month. Markovic was named on the bench for the next game for Serbia, though.

There is good news on the injury front for Liverpool, too. Daniel Sturridge is in line to make his first league appearance since the 3-0 victory over Tottenham in late August. Sturridge injured himself on international duty for England. It is clear how much Liverpool have missed Sturridge. They have just been missing something up top, and despite many saying it’s the departure of Luis Suarez, I think Daniel Sturridge has plenty to do with this, too. I think Balotelli will perform a lot better with Sturridge, also. Balotelli doesn’t look like he’s great up top on his own, same with Sturridge, in my opinion. And against Tottenham, in the only game they have played with each other, they showed glimpses of a potentially good partnership.

More good news for Liverpool. Emre Can and Joe Allen are both expected to come back into the squad, after lengthy spells out on the sidelines. This will give Liverpool’s midfield a massive boost with some huge fixtures coming up in the next 14 days.

After a club vs country row, Raheem Sterling should be nice and fresh for Liverpool’s trip to London. Sterling requested to be rested due to fatigue. Roy Hodgson, the England manager, then told this to the press, which was an idiotic thing to do. Hodgson has now started a massive debate, and there are many England fans who are fuming with Sterling. However, most ex-professionals I’ve seen, have all stuck up for the promising 19 year-old. Sterling should be in contention to face his former youth club.

Adam Lallana has been in fantastic form for club and country, recently. It’s a battle between him and Raheem Sterling for the place at the tip of the diamond. I think Lallana might just edge it on this occasion. Rodgers could have one eye on Wednesday’s massive Champions League game against Real Madrid, so may look to rest a few players. Sterling may be one of them. Raheem Sterling as an impact sub is deadly, too, as we saw away to Southampton last season. Lallana will look to double his Liverpool tally, after scoring a brilliant first goal for Liverpool against West Bromwich Albion.

Jordan Henderson is a must in the Liverpool side. The vice-captain is arguably Liverpool’s most important player, nowadays. I think he will be on the right centre midfielder in the diamond. You wouldn’t think he’d need resting for the Madrid game.

There is an argument for Joe Allen to come in for Sunday’s game, if fit. However, we will need someone like Allen to help run the midfield in the game against Madrid. So maybe Rodgers will give him another games rest, and play Coutinho in the left central midfield spot? Coutinho certainly needs to force his way back into this side. Everyone knows he has the talent, but his inconsistency is unbelievably frustrating.

Steven Gerrard will most likely start at the base of the diamond. If we’re winning comfortably, I hope we bring him off for Emre Can or Lucas Leiva around the 60-70 minute mark, to give him a bit of a rest. Because there is no doubt Gerrard will start against Madrid.

Alberto Moreno will most likely start at left-back. Is there a case for Jose Enrique to start on Sunday, then Moreno on Wednesday? Personally, I hope we start Moreno in both, I think he’s more than capable to do that.

Dejan Lovren will be out injured, same with Mamadou Sakho. This leaves Martin Skrtel and Kolo Toure. Lovren says he is ‘targeting’ the Madrid game. I don’t know if he’ll make it, though. It seems unlikely, but can Kolo Toure regain that fantastic form he found at the start of last season?

Javier Manquillo or Glen Johnson? I think it will be Manquillo for Sunday, and Johnson for Wednesday. I think this comes down to experience, more than anything. The experience advantage Johnson has on Manquillo will make up Rodgers’ mind, in my opinion.

This is the side I hope/think Rodgers will name on Sunday:

Via FansCorners.com

Via FansCorners.com

I think Liverpool will win this game; 3-2. Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling to score. Sturridge brace.

Bobby Vincent

Bobby Vincent

My name's Bobby Vincent, I am 17 years old. For the majority of those 17 years, Football has been my life, especially Liverpool. These days I spend a bit of my time writing about the club I love. Any feedback (positive/negative) is hugely appreciated and helps me out a massive amount.
Bobby Vincent

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