QPR 2 Liverpool 3
Queens Park Rangers probably should have won, definitely will feel a draw was the least they deserved, but in the end came away with nothing to show from another Loftus Road Premier League match on Sunday.
Manager Harry Redknapp was pleased with the overall play and spirit displayed by his side, after a number of humbling defeats already this season, but will have been ultimately disappointed with the way they spurned a number of chances in a goal less first half where Leroy Fer hit the bar twice. Liverpool's best chance in a lacklustre half for them was a shot by captain Steven Gerrard that was narrowly wide.
Liverpool were better after the break but with 67 minutes on the clock it was looking as though neither side would make the breakthrough. Then, as Rangers seemed to switch off momentarily, Raheem Sterling took a quick free-kick to Glen Johnson who drilled in a hard low cross that Irish international Richard Dunne turned into his own net. The home team came back at the Reds and deservedly drew level with three minutes of normal time to go through Eduardo Vargas, after a neat lay off by Charlie Austin.
As time ticked on to 90 minutes, the draw looked the most likely result but then came a dramatic last few minutes that yielded a further three goals. First, substitute Philippe Coutinho looked to have won it for the 'pool after a swift break, drilling a low shot with his right foot into the corner after cutting in from the left.
Then QPR drew level again minutes later as the match had entered injury time, as Vargas glanced in a header from a corner.
Redknapp must have breathed a sense of relief for at least gaining a point for their efforts, but as the match went into the fifth minute of added on time he afterwards described his players' actions as "naivety beyond belief" as they went for the win.
A misplaced free kick in the Liverpool half was cleared by the Liverpool defence, allowing Liverpool to once again counter attack QPR. Coutinho curved a beautifully weighted ball that found Sterling in space in the left back channel, whose attempted inside pass to Mario Balotelli was instead deflected into his own net by the unfortunate Steven Caulker, to earn them a rather fortunate 3-2 victory.
Captain Steven Gerrard echoed his manager Brendan Rogers' honest appraisal after the match in viewing that his team were fortunate to get anything from the match, let alone all three points. Nevertheless his side are now up to 5th place in the league after the result, just behind West Ham on goal difference, with Manchester United able to leapfrog them on Monday night if they beat West Brom away. QPR are bottom of the table and the pressure will be mounting on Redknapp to get better results sooner rather than later.
Striker Balotelli once again showed little sign of being 'Super Mario' as he had a largely ineffectual game in the continued absence of England striker Daniel Sturridge up front, his main contribution coming in the second half as he blazed over the bar with the goal seemingly at his mercy.
Liverpool will gain some confidence after two consecutive league wins, but their next match on Wednesday is an altogether different proposition as they host holders Real Madrid in a Champions League group match. Christiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale (fitness permitting) will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing Liverpool, unless they can find a way to shore up their porous defence and get Balotelli back on the goal trail.
