With Liverpool’s unbeaten run ending last Monday at Fulham they were hoping to bounce back quickly in their return to Anfield. But Liverpool have not found it easy at Anfield this season, having drawn five matches and especially struggling to beat newly promoted teams, with draws against Norwich and Swansea already this season. QPR have started pretty well this season and Liverpool would have to be at their best to overcome Neil Warnock’s side.
THE TEAM
Dalglish brought Maxi and Kuyt back into the team for this match. With Jay Spearing suspended and Lucas out for the season, Jordan Henderson was drafted into the middle of midfield. Andy Carroll was once again relegated to the bench alongside Jamie Carragher who is struggling to win his place back because of the outstanding Skrtel and Agger.
THE MATCH
Liverpool started the match brightly with 3 corners inside the first 3 minutes but the first real chance came when Downing crossed to Suarez but his header was tame.
Then Kuyt and Suarez combined before Suarez shot inches wide. Liverpool were dominating and QPR were struggling to cope. Maxi then set up Suarez but he shot against the hoardings. Suarez was causing all sorts of bother in the QPR defence and he almost turned provider with a dangerous cross after wriggling free of his marker.
Then Kuyt sent Maxi clear but he was thwarted by a great save from Cerny. QPR had to wait until the 41st minute for their first attempt on goal from Wright-Phillips but it ballooned into the Kop.
Liverpool responded with Downing sending Suarez clear but his dinked effort was saved by Cerny who was proving hard to beat. Liverpool went in at the half wondering how they had not scored with all their dominance of the first half.
But Liverpool finally broke the deadlock in the 47th minute when Adam crossed from the left to find the unmarked Suarez who headed past Cerny to the delight of the Kop. Liverpool went in search of the killer second goal with Kuyt going close with a couple of efforts and Maxi once again being denied by another brilliant Cerny save.
Liverpool continued to create chances but between bad finishing and great goalkeeping they could not find the second goal and as the game entered the latter stages QPR started to believe they had a chance of scraping something from a match that they had been outplayed in. The visitors started to make Liverpool defend for the first time and had a penalty appeal waved away when Skrtel made a challenge in the box.
Liverpool had to defend a few corners in the latter stages but they almost doubled their lead in the final seconds when Bellamy’s cross was diverted of the bar by Wright-Phillips. There was great relief around Anfield at the final whistle.
SUMMARY
Great to see Maxi and Kuyt start and Henderson play in his favoured position. Liverpool totally dominate the match, but once again not converting the chances created into goals, which is becoming a common theme. Thankfully we got the goal that was enough to win the match, where in previous games at home we have too often failed to net a winner. Hopefully this win will get another run going. We are playing some tremendous stuff right now and it is far more enjoyable to watch than in previous years.
Man Of The Match – Suarez- unplayable at times, a constant threat, terrorised the QPR defence and thoroughly deserved his goal.
Written by Jamie McLaughlin, who writes for Anfield News
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