Sunday's football as it happened

1. Precise Walters header gives Stoke victory
2. Adam spot-kick into corner drew hosts level
3. Bony put Swans in front after Moses tumble in the box

What an incredible weekend of football. But it doesn't end there - we're back tomorrow for Manchester United's trip to West Brom. All of today's goals will be on Match of the Day 2 this evening - which is on at 22:30 BST on BBC One in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It's 23:25 in Scotland.

In the meantime, BBC Radio 5 live's 6-0-6 continues to run. I'll leave you with the thoughts of Malcolm, a Liverpool fan: "Balotelli is the most useless and lazy player I've ever seen in a Liverpool shirt."

Oh dear. Night!

QPR legend Rodney Marsh: Only decision to bench Rio - top performance - best team- very unlucky result - let's have no knee jerk reactions!!

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Kris, London: Danny Mills said if you gave penalties for wrestling in the box you'd have to give six or seven a game. And you would, but that's precisely because it currently goes unpunished. Start taking action and players will stop doing it.

Another story which caught my eye today was Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp criticising his team for playing "pointless" football as they slipped to a third straight Bundesliga defeat.

Dortmund, who finished as runners-up last season, are fifth-bottom after a 2-1 defeat at newly-promoted Cologne. The poor start has been described as the club's "worst situation in years" by director of sport Michael Zorc.

"We played a kind of football which is absolutely pointless," said Klopp. "We've got to face the music again."

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Phil, Poole: Kudos to Ryan Shawcross for telling it how it is. I can't imagine John Terry or Philipp Lahm being called cheats for doing the same thing.

Dan, Swansea: Actually glad Garry Monk came out and said what he did. Having watched the Stoke penalty again from referee's viewpoint it was a clear dive. Weak refereeing to say the least.

Andy, Sandbach: I agree with Mr Monk, and I am a mighty Potters fan.

In case you haven't seen it already, there's a good feature on the BBC News website which looks at what has happened to the ground where some famous old football stadiums used to stand. Highbury, Ayresome Park and Stoke's old Victoria Ground all feature. As does a picture of a Bolton fan weighing up whether to buy a Burnden Park toilet at auction...

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Paul Moore: Liverpool's Martin Skrtel is by far the worst offender for ripping shirts off players backs and dragging them to the ground.

A Sterling effort

Liverpool's Raheem Sterling on Instagram: Back to where it all started, great win from the boys.

Instagram

'Moses should be ashamed'

Here's more from Swansea manager Garry Monk on Stoke's Victor Moses: "The player should be ashamed. I would not be able to go home to my family and show my face - that is how I live my life, for me it is a disgrace; he should be punished heavily for that.

He should be punished for that, it was one of the most blatant dives you will ever see, he should be ashamed of himself for diving like that. If my player had done that he would not play in the next game. It has to be eradicated.

On the referee Michael Oliver: "He is supposed to be a professional referee at the highest level. He's the only guy who thought it was a penalty, everyone in the stadium was amazed.

"I've sent a DVD off, with a letter, but I've had no contact from Mike Riley. He is clearly not listening and I have to go above him, and hopefully we will get the answers."

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Graham Last: Managers with completely different views. A referee can't win.

How's stat?!

And here are some good stats from the afternoon's first game, at Loftus Road:

• This was the second match in Premier League history to see three goals in the 90th minute or later of a match, after Leicester City-Arsenal (3-3) 27 August 1997.
• Liverpool have now conceded eight goals away from home this season - only QPR (12), Sunderland (11) and Crystal Palace (9) have conceded more.
• Richard Dunne made his 400th PL start, and scored his 10th own goal - he has scored 11 regular PL goals. Dunne has scored the most own goals in the PL, three more than the next highest, Jamie Carragher (7).

Here's a little stat for you... Michael Oliver has now awarded five penalties this season, more than any other Premier League referee.

Player reaction

Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross, speaking to BBC Sport: "Swansea are a good side, they gave us problems in the first half, in the second half we switched it round and were very compact. Once we got the second goal we felt pretty comfortable and deserved the victory."

On the referee's decision to award a penalty against him for holding Wilfried Bony at a corner: "It is fine if the referee gives them every time I get held in the box. I was grabbing him he was grabbing me, he went down easily, it is part of football.

"If the decisions are given every single game I will accept it but I very much doubt they will. In the press from previous games I have been singled out and it seems when the bigger players do it it is world-class defending but when I do it is cheating."

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Will Moores: "Monk is right, if you don't do your job to a high standard you should be called out. Refs are protected far too much."

Manager reaction

On the first penalty decision, for Swansea:"I am disappointed because Ryan Shawcross has been highlighted in the media as apparently holding players in the box which is a complete nonsense. I see everybody holding people at corners. The fact that it has been highlighted was maybe in the back of the referee's mind. Wilfried Bony is a big lad, and he goes down too easily in my mind.

On the second penalty decision, for Stoke: "With Victor Moses' pace in the box, Angel Rangel has come across him and impeded him in my view. It doesn't take too much at that pace. I actually heard him [Swansea manager Garry Monk] say my player is a cheat, which is unacceptable in my view. Obviously he is upset, and we have to come in here and speak 20 minutes after the game but sometimes you just have to bite your tongue, maybe that will come with experience."

Manager reaction

Stoke manager Mark Hughes, speaking to Sky Sports: "Certainly in the first half Swansea had the best of things, we had a game plan to try and press from the front and one or two were a little reluctant to follow that so we were stretched. In the second half we addressed that and were much better.

"The guys who came on made a real impact, I am really pleased for them. In the second half I thought we were by far the better team. It's a huge result for us, now we are in the top 10."

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Tom Thrall: Grappling someone outside the box would be a foul all the time, so why not in it? Skrtel gets away with it all the time.

Manager reaction

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Swansea manager Garry Monk, speaking to Sky Sports: "To come away with no points is disappointing. We had some great chances early on and we had talked about being clinical when coming to a place like this, where you have to make sure the chances you get are goals. Unfortunately we didn't.

"The first decision is a penalty, Ryan Shawcross had his hands all over Wilfried Bony, he pulls him to the ground. The second is a disgraceful decision. Not in a million years is it a a penalty. And the problem I have now is that this season a lot of match-changing decisions are going against us.

"I looked straight at the Stoke bench and even they couldn't believe. That tells you everything.

"It was a clear dive, he has cheated the ref and the referrer has cheated us. And it came at vital time. We should have been in 1-0 up at half-time and then it is a different game."

Full-time stats

BBC

Disgusting decision - Monk

Swansea manager Garry Monk: "Today was an absolute disgusting decision from the referee. Victor Moses should be done for diving, he cheated us.

"It's happening week after week and it's always against us. I contacted referee's chief Mike Riley but haven't heard anything and I think that's very poor leadership from him.

"This is the highest level and if they can't perform at this level they shouldn't be there.

When asked if he feared his comments may land him in trouble he said: "What have I said wrong? I haven't said anything wrong, I haven't called anyone names, it's not slanderous."

Player reaction

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Stoke forward Jon Walters, speaking to Sky Sports: "The first penalty I wasn't too sure of and the second one, I thought he gave it because he gave the first one. It was a hard game. Swansea are a good team with a good manager. We managed to nick the winner, and that is a couple of wins back to back now. About time too."

So, Stoke's Charlie Adam believes his side's penalty - awarded when Victor Moses appeared to dive - was a correct decision. To recap, Swansea went into the lead via a controversial spot-kick after Ryan Shawcross was penalised for grappling with Wilfried Bony at a corner. BBC Radio 5 live's Danny Mills believes neither was a penalty - what do you think?

Player reaction

Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam, speaking to Sky Sports: "Wilfried Bony caused us problems in the first half, there were too many balls in to his feet, but once we got to grips with that we settled in and managed to play and in the end we dominated the second part of the game and deserved the victory.

"I thought it was a penalty, Angel Rangel stuck a leg out, it's a penalty and it brought us back in the game."

As it stands

It's the middle of October and Stoke are level on points in the Premier League with Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham. They are also above Newcastle, Everton and Aston Villa. And they play good football, too.

BBC

Former England defender Danny Mills at the Britannia Stadium

BBC Radio 5 live

"Mark Hughes will be delighted. His side was poor in the first half, when there were two very contentious decisions. The penalty Swansea were awarded was ridiculous in my opinion and I think the referee evened it up by giving Stoke a soft penalty later.

"But Stoke were much sharper in the second half and in the end got the win through Jon Walters. They have struggled at home this season."

FULL-TIME

PA

A pretty impressive three points for the Potters. Job done for Sparky and the boys. Swansea are now five games without a win.

The Swansea keeper is up... but Bafetimbi Gomis fires his free-kick well over the bar.

Swansea are awarded a free-kick 30 yards from goal...

Everyone back for Stoke. Swansea look like they've run out of steam.

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Agubata Odinaka: I can now say confidently that there has been a revolution at Stoke City. Their game has definitely evolved. Credit to Mark Hughes.

Wilfried Bony from just outside the box. Well wide.

Former England defender Danny Mills at the Britannia Stadium

BBC Radio 5 live

"Stoke will move up into the top half with this win, and Mark Hughes will be delighted. It would be fabulous for them to finish there at the end of the season. Swansea are going for it. They are pretty much playing a four up front, with Marvin Emnes sat in behind."

INJURY TIME

Reuters

Ki Sung-yueng tries to bend a 25-yard free-kick into the back of the net, but Asmir Begovic is equal to the effort. Four minutes of time added on.

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Sam Williams: I turned on the Liverpool game with 10 minutes to go. Hopefully I'll have the same effect here...

Swansea are pushing Stoke back now - the Potters loathe to play too high in case Jefferson Montero gets in behind. Marvin Emnes has a shot which is blocked. I'd say we're coming up to last chance saloon territory for the visitors, but four goals were scored in this period in the Liverpool game earlier.

SUBSTITUTION

A final roll of the dice from Swansea, with Marvin Emnes replacing Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Stoke, who have used all three of their substitutes, have a litte worry as defender Phil Bardsley pulls up injured. He'll do his best to solider on, though.

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Kevin Threadgold: That has to be one of the worst attempts at a save I've ever seen. What on earth was Lukasz Fabianski doing?

Steve: Amusingly late dive from Fabianski for the second Stoke goal.

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Back on the subject of wingers, it's great to see players whose sole job is to roast the full-back and put in a decent delivery. Like the good old days of David White, Tony Daley, Peter Beagrie and Anders Limpar.

Stoke have their tails up now and Steven N'Zonzi works his way into the Swansea penalty area, but dithers too long and the opportunity passes.

Former England defender Danny Mills at the Britannia Stadium

BBC Radio 5 live

"Stoke have been in the ascendency in this second half, their attitude has been much better. Angel Rangel gave the ball away for Swansea, Stoke play in a great cross and it is a fantastic header from Jon Walters. He just guides it into the corner of the net. But the defending could be tighter. The goalkeeper had no chance, he just had a little token gesture dive."

GOAL

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There are three quality wingers involved in this match (73 mins), and it's one of those who might have the final say - Oussama Assaidi whipping in a perfect left-wing cross for Jon Walters to head home from 18 yards out. Textbook.

YELLOW CARD

Wilfried Bony is booked for a striker's tackle on Stoke midfielder Steven N'Zonzi.

SUBSTITUTION

Victor Moses has to come off because of a little injury and he is replaced by Oussama Assaidi. What with those two and Jefferson Montero, there's some exciting out-and-out wingers being employed in this match. Good to see.

Former England defender Danny Mills at the Britannia Stadium

BBC Radio 5 live

"It's time Swansea start to just up their tempo a little bit now, and with the substitutions Garry Monk has made they are almost playing with four up front. One of those of course is Wilfried Bony. 17 goals was it that he scored last season?

"I think it's only a matter of time that a big club comes in for him, because if you play Bony in a quality side he will get even more goals."

Jefferson Montero is a quick lad and he leaves Phil Bardsley for dead before cutting the ball across goal where Erik Pieters is on hand to put the ball out for a corner, which subsequently comes to nothing.

Facebook photo gallery

Have a look at some of the best photos from today's Premier League games on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

CLOSE!

Swansea midfielder Ki Sung-yueng has two chances to put his side back in front, but his first shot from 12 yards out is blocked and the follow-up is saved by Asmir Begovic. Two good chances.

SUBSTITUTION

PA

"That's a good idea, Sparky (62 min)... I'll make two changes of my own."

Swansea call for Bafetimbi Gomis and Jefferson Montero. Tom Carroll and Nathan Dyer are hooked off.

Stoke win a corner and the home supporters burst into a chorus of 'Are you watching referee?'. There's no shirt pulling in the box this time, though, as the ball finds its way to Jon Walters at the back stick who heads over the bar.

Former England defender Danny Mills at the Britannia Stadium

BBC Radio 5 live

AP

"Stoke have been much better in this second half. They've played with more tempo and more vigour, they've been getting closer to the Swansea players and haven't afforded them the same time and space. It's all down to attitude. Swansea have found it difficult to get into the game."

SUBSTITUTION

Stoke shuffle their pack - sending on Jon Walters in place of Mame Biram Diouf. Stephen Ireland also makes way, for Geoff Cameron.

Everything which is good about Stoke goes through Charlie Adam, and the midfielder has a dig from 25 yards but the ball is in more danger of troubling John from Fenton sat in Row D than the Swansea keeper.

A clever free-kick from Stoke. Charlie Adam almost rolls it into the six-yard box, totally deceiving everyone, before it's eventually cleared for Phil Bardsley to lash a shot over the bar.

Erik Pieters is tripped on the edge of the area by Swansea's Ki Sung-yueng. Free-kick in a decent position for the hosts...

Victor Moses is giving Swansea a bit of a headache down that left flank, and another lung-busting run is eventually cut short by a strong challenge. After some treatment, Moses is fit to continue.

Former England defender Danny Mills at the Britannia Stadium

BBC Radio 5 live

"Wilfried Bony is the difference in this game at the moment, he is holding up the ball and bringing his Swansea teammates into things. At the other end, Peter Crouch is just getting crowded out, and Stoke cannot build any meaningful attacks."

Swansea continue to pass the ball about well without actually creating too many chances - Neil Taylor suddenly finding room for a shot which he smashes into the nearest player, Marc Wilson.

Former England defender Danny Mills at the Britannia Stadium

BBC Radio 5 live

"I can't wait for the next corner now, I can't wait to see what Michael Oliver does. For the Swansea penalty, I understand by the laws of the game that yes you can give a penalty, but who grabs who first? It is very difficult to decide. And from now on you have to give every single one.

"Then Victor Moses dived. It was never a penalty and the referee must have given it because he knew he had given a soft penalty first time around."

Victor Moses is looking a bright spark for Stoke this afternoon - he again sets off on a powerful run down the left but is eventually crowded out by two Swansea defenders. Nice wing-play nonetheless.

BBC Radio 5 live 606 phone-in

The lines are now open to speak to Kelly Cates and Ian Wright.

They want your reaction to that dramatic finish at Loftus Road - QPR fans - how unlucky were you? Was that a more promising performance?

Liverpool fans - what do you make of Mario Balotelli's start as a Liverpool player? After that performance - how do you feel about the Real Madrid game in the week?

Wrighty's also looking for your questions for Ask Wrighty. You can ask them on social media at #AskWrighty.

Call - 0500 909 693

Text - 850 58

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William Woodland: Why is everybody attacking Michael Oliver for the penalty decision and not attacking Victor Moses for the dive?

Simon Hancock: Doesn't help Swansea now, but can Moses be punished retrospectively for diving?

KICK-OFF

Time for another 45 minutes.

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Duncan, Nottingham: Totally correct for the Ryan Shawcross penalty - well done ref! I like Danny Mills' commentary but you are wrong there my friend and really pleased to see the brave referee give this as it is getting ridiculous.

Player reaction on Twitter

Chelsea defender Ryan Bertrand, who is on loan at Southampton: Respect to the captain. 500 games, looked after me from young, from paying for all the young scholars' driving lessons to just being there for any advice a young player needs! #500.

John Terry played his 500th match as Chelsea captain as the Blues won 2-1 away to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

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Dan Stanley: Michael Oliver has just undone all his good work. The Ryan Shawcross foul was a penalty, Angel Rangel's not in a million years.

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Stoke City kit man Neil Baldwin - the subject of the recent BBC documentary, Marvellous, was presented to supporters before today's game.

BBC

Former England defender Danny Mills at the Britannia Stadium

BBC Radio 5 live

"Michael Oliver needs to get in for half-time, get himself a cup of tea, a shot of brandy - whatever he does just to calm himself down - because he is all over the place at the moment. He is getting booed by both sets of fans. The Stoke players went straight to the referee, and I expect both managers will have serious words with him too.

"I don't understand how you can give the first penalty because you would have to give six or seven a game. I think he knows he has given a soft penalty and then when Victor Moses throws himself to the ground, when most of the time he would have been given a yellow card for diving, it's a penalty. Very poor refereeing."

HALF-TIME

Two penalties, two goals, one referee in the spotlight.

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James, Cambridge: Not sure what Michael Oliver is doing now. Great call for the first penalty, now he's just given in to fan pressure. Got to be better at this level.

YELLOW CARD

As ever, when you have two controversial penalty decisions - although I think the first one was spot on - there is extra edge about this match now. And, guess what? Phil Bardsley has been booked amid all the extra spice.

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Ben Smith: Absolute nonsense. Ridiculous decision by the referee. Never a penalty. Should have been a caution for Victor Moses' dive.

Former England defender Danny Mills at the Britannia Stadium

BBC Radio 5 live

"Stoke are very fortunate to get back into it. The first penalty was dubious but the second was even more so. The referee will be surrounded by players from both sides at half-time, because now Swansea are furious.

"Shocking. Embarrassing. The referee has bottled it big time. He made a mistake first time round but that is abysmal refereeing and two wrongs do not make a right. That is appalling from Michael Oliver. End of story."

GOAL

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It shouldn't have been a penalty, but Stoke take full advantage of their reprieve as Charlie Adam buries the ball past Lukasz Fabianski.

PENALTY FOR STOKE

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Victor Moses drives into the box and appears to dive as he gets in front of Angel Rangel. Penalty.

Former England defender Danny Mills at the Britannia Stadium

BBC Radio 5 live

"Stoke have been fired up by that penalty. They are still playing a little too direct but certainly their attitude has changed considerably, because they had been very lethargic. They thought they would have an easy day of it against Swansea. They could be three down."

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Ali, Edinburgh: Fantastic to see an official having the sense to FINALLY give a penalty for wrestling in the box, been going unpunished for years. Other referees take note!

Stoke attack to the bye-line and pull the ball back where Charlie Adam is waiting to take a pot shot which is straight at Lukasz Fabianski.

Reuters

Here's a lovely picture of a rainbow in Stoke. Need I say more?

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Cameron Laws: Finally Ryan Shawcross is punished for manhandling! Well done Michael Oliver, great refereeing.

Greg Edwards: About time someone penalised Shawcross for that, he's at it every week! Top marks to Michael Oliver.

Adam Cespedes: Well done ref, finally giving a penalty for shirt-pulling. Needs to happen more often!

PENALTY APPEAL

Swansea want another penalty, this time when Wilfried Bony is knocked over in the box by Erik Pieters' firm challenge. Michael Oliver correctly waves play on.

Former England defender Danny Mills at the Britannia Stadium

BBC Radio 5 live

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"I'm not quite sure what the 'keeper was thinking there, Wilfried Bony was only ever going to put it that side from the way he ran up to it. But it is a suspect penalty for me. I think Ryan Shawcross is very unlucky, and Mark Hughes will be furious.

"Nobody appealed for the penalty. If you give that one you are going to give five or six penalties a game. Every single player in the box has their hands on somebody."

GOAL

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Stoke's supporters are incensed about the penalty decision and jeer Wilfried Bony, who steps up and sends Asmir Begovic the wrong way.

PENALTY FOR SWANSEA

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From a Swansea corner, Ryan Shawcross grapples Wilfried Bony to the floor. Penalty. The defender is booked. Good call from the referee, Michael Oliver.

Both sides are quite useful going forward, but there's no killer touch - again emphasised when Stoke striker Mame Biram Diouf barges his way into the area but his shot is blocked by the backside of Neil Taylor.

Former England defender Danny Mills at the Britannia Stadium

BBC Radio 5 live

"Swansea are well on top but they have to score in this period because Stoke will come back into the game. If you don't score when you are on top, whoever you are playing in the Premier League, the opposition will come back at you."

Reuters

Swansea are building a little momentum and Nathan Dyer drives at the Stoke defence before firing a shot into the legs of Ryan Shawcross. At the other end, Charlie Adam wins possession and it takes a superb interception from Ki Sung-yueng to prevent Stephen Ireland's pass finding its target in the penalty area.

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Adrian Mahoney: Ryan Shawcross does not play for a fashionable club, it is that simple. Same goes for Nathan Dyer. Both worthy of a chance.

Guy: If Shawcross moved to Manchester United, Roy Hodgson would select him without even watching him. It's not right but it's true. Same with Dyer.

PA

"If you were still Manchester United manager we'd be playing against each other tomorrow."

"That's not funny, Alan."

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Alan Lucas: I can name a few centre backs who have been turned inside out by Zlatan Ibrahimovic (see 6mins). Ryan Shawcross is worth a shot.

Former England defender Danny Mills at the Britannia Stadium

BBC Radio 5 live

"Stoke have got to up their game here. Stephen Ireland is just having a word with Mame Diouf, telling him to hold the ball up more. If you don't, then the midfielders can't make the runs in behind. And that is where it all comes from. Their forward play is very scrappy at the moment.

"Swansea on the other hand have a specific game plan and are getting players in behind the Stoke defence."

PENALTY APPEAL

Swansea will be aware of Peter Crouch's threat today - the big man has scored in four of his last five Premier League appearances against the Welsh side. The ex-Liverpool man has been quiet so far today, but he does appeal for a penalty when Neil Taylor pulls him back and appears to prevent him from jumping for Victor Moses' cross to the back stick. He had a fair case there.

There's a little lull in the action at the moment, underlined by Gylfi Sigurdsson's poor free-kick which drifts harmlessly out of play.

Player reaction on Twitter

Liverpool defender Jose Enrique: Not very good performance by the team but we will improve from it. The most important thing is we got the three points.

ACROBATIC EFFORT

Reuters

Stoke striker Mame Biram Diouf, who is wearing rainbow-coloured sweatbands on his wrist along with bright coloured boots, juggles the ball before trying an overhead kick which ripples into the side-netting.

We've already had the Ryan Shawcross debate (15:48), but I'm going to throw it out there that Garry Monk would one day make a superb England manager. Discuss.

Former England defender Danny Mills at the Britannia Stadium

BBC Radio 5 live

"Charlie Adam ran pretty much the length of the pitch there - his shot goes wide but before that there was a great move for Swansea. They opened Stoke right up.

"Stoke appear to have come into this thinking Swansea are just going to pass it around and it will be a nice easy game. They have not started with any tempo or vigour. And once you start slowly it is very difficult to speed things up. Mark Hughes will be very disappointed. It is almost like they have come in complacent, while Swansea are clearly fired up."

CLOSE!

Some of Swansea's one-touch football on the edge of the Stoke penalty area is more mouth-watering than a Sunday evening rhubarb crumble. They are seriously tasty in the final third and some neat build-up play involving Wilfried Bony and a backheel ends with Ki Sung-yueng firing a low shot at Asmir Begovic.

At the other end, Stoke are much more direct - but no less effective - and Charlie Adam drives at the heart of the Swans defence before flashing a shot wide.

Former England defender Danny Mills at the Britannia Stadium

BBC Radio 5 live

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"There is the basis of a good team at Swansea. And this season they seem to be playing more football. I think when Gary Monk first arrived he tried to make them a bit more robust and that maybe wasn't quite the Swansea way. They are good in possession, and play quick-placed football.

"So far Stoke are sitting too deep. They have to put apply more pressure higher up the pitch, and the missed chance for Gylfi Sigurdsson is a perfect example of why."

A decent early opening for Swansea, with Gylfi Sigurdsson being played in on goal but the midfielder decides to try and round the keeper rather than going for the little dink and Asmir Begovic is able to retrieve the situation for Stoke.

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Maverick: I remember Ryan Shawcross coming on against Sweden and Zlatan Ibrahimovic made him look silly. I don't think he'll improve the England defence.

Player reaction

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, speaking to BBC Sport: "We wanted to come here and control the game and we didn't do that. To get three points we've got to go away happy, but we've got to consider ourselves lucky. We always stayed in the game. We gave them too many chances in the first half, but we stayed in the game. We created them problems, but from our point of view if we want to finish in the top four we've got to play better away from home. If we perform like that we're not going to win many."

Gerrard on Mario Balotelli: "He's got to keep working hard and not get himself down. Playing around players like Coutinho, Sterling and Henderson he will get chances."

Gerrard on Raheem Sterling: "I thought Raheem Sterling was superb. From the media's and the public's point of view, you've got to be behind this kid because he's going to be the best player in the country."

An early test for Swansea keeper Lukasz Fabianski, who smothers a dangerous cross into the box from deep by Charlie Adam.

KICK-OFF

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Swansea are enjoying a good season, then. But can they do it on a windy Sunday tea-time at Stoke? There's only one way to find out...

Player reaction

PA

QPR striker Charlie Austin: "We definitely deserved a point, if not three. For the first goal we witched off and for the other two they got us on the break. Bobby Zamora is so strong and he created a lot of chances for us. We certainly had the chances today. We know what we need to do, we need to back the manager and get a win as quickly as we can."

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Troggy, Sandwich: Rickie Lambert must replace Mario Balotelli. 20 goals a season at Southampton, works hard and involves others. Mario? Zero goals, zero assists and very little work rate and effort. Would love to see his distance covered stats compared to Raheem Sterling's.

Manager reaction

Reuters

QPR manager Harry Redknapp: "That's the best I've seen the team play since I've been here. We were naive. You take the point today because, in our situation, it gives us all a big lift.

"We kept coming back. I just felt we were fantastic today. You organise with a minute to go, thinking we'll take a point, we ain't going to get beat whatever happens. To throw the result away, having worked so hard...

"Everywhere I thought we were fantastic. Bobby Zamora for 70 minutes or so was fantastic. Today we went after them all over the park and we won our battles in 90% of positions but in the end we got done for being naive.

"You can only do what you can do. I still feel like we're going to be OK. I'm really positive. Richard Dunne was outstanding in the back. We were solid, but naivety cost us."

Angel Rangel believes Swansea's excellent start to the season has been inspired by manager Garry Monk's winning mentality.

"We know Garry as a player. He was a winner and a leader and as a manager he's trying to do the same. We have to pay him back with good performances," Rangel said.

"It's been a great start. We had nine points from nine and then the defeat to Chelsea, which can happen.

"There's still a long way to go and we have two important games coming up. We played well at Stoke last year. It's one of the stadiums where we can get three points. It's all about on the day, trying to play our best football and getting a result."

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Abu Ali: I'm sure Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas will catch up over the week to discuss their teams' inept defence ruining their work.

Grant Sheppard: Feeling good about facing Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Javier Hernandez etc on Wednesday night after that. Not. We might need to win 10-9.

Manager reaction

More from Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, speaking to Sky Sports: On whether there is a dispute with England manager Roy Hodgson: "No, we don't it is all gone, it has been way blown up. Roy Hodgson and I speak often, he is a good man. My focus is on my players now and preparing them for the next game."

Today's two managers have a little history, with Swansea boss Garry Monk being a team-mate of Mark Hughes' at Southampton around the turn of the century.

Hughes said: "Of course, I remember Garry. He was a young player at Southampton when I was there and was still making his way in the game.

"It's refreshing to see how well he has made the step from being a player to a manager - it looks like a good fit.

"Some players grow into the role but it can take them a while. But Garry seems to have the manner and presence to cope with the demands that come with being a Premier League manager."

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Ahead of this game, Stoke supporters have been putting their names to a Facebook campaign to get their skipper Ryan Shawcross capped by England. More than 2,300 fans have signed the petition. What do you think? Is Shawcross deserving of a call from Roy Hodgson?

Manager reaction

More from Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, speaking to BBC Sport: "Good players get booed. That is something Raheem Sterling might get from time to time. But the kid loved QPR in his time here, he decided to leave, he was courageous to come up north and has developed since he came to Liverpool. He has gone on to be a full international player, a player from London who loves QPR, and does everything for Liverpool. His speed and penetration is so important for us."

We'll bring you more reaction from Loftus Road as we get it, but we really should begin to have a little look at Swansea's trip to Stoke. The visitors can knock West Ham out of fourth spot with victory, while Stoke, depending on the amount of goals they score, have the chance to go sixth.

Manager reaction

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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, speaking to Sky Sports: "QPR certainly did not deserve to lose. We were lucky to get the win, but we showed tremendous character. We were a bit better in the second half but QPR definitely deserved something from the game. In the first half we had no rhythm, we did not pass the ball, there was no speed in the game, but Joe Allen and Phillipe Coutinho coming on gave us a technical lift and we started to create more. Raheem Sterling was outstanding in his running and in his desire. Overall, we were fortunate."

As it stands

Liverpool are heading in the right direction. QPR remain rock bottom.

BBC

Captain reaction

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard: "We're still in shock to be honest. We were very lucky today. We'd have no complaints if we came away with nothing. Our performance needs to be better. It was very bitty, stop-start, the only credit we can give ourselves is that we never gave up. All around it needs improving.

"We're going to go away really happy, but the big picture, moving forward, is that we've got to improve. Football is a strange game at times and I'm sure all the QPR players and Harry Redknapp are in shock as well. We've conceded two sloppy goals. We're coming up against the best side in Europe in the next week so we need to address that."

Reuters

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James, Surrey: Liverpool winning games with Mario Balotelli as their main striker is testament to the rest of the team.

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Ewan Grunwald: And that, ladies and gents, is why you never leave a football match early.

KF: I went to sleep during a drab first half and woke up as Eduardo Vargas made it 1-1. This is my lucky week!

Both sides had 15 shots on goal. Did Liverpool deserve to edge it? The stats say so, but I reckon QPR have been hard done by.

BBC

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Barry Travis: How do you keep extra defenders back from an attack and still get hit on the break? Richard Dunne called Steven Caulker back and he scores the own goal.

David Howl: Crikey, that's bad luck for QPR. Almost enough of it to be forgiven for overspending their way to promotion.

Liam Riley: Twice QPR would have been better off leaving it for Mario Balotelli to finish!

LINE-UPS

Stoke: Begovic, Bardsley, Shawcross, Wilson, Pieters, Nzonzi, Adam, Diouf, Ireland, Moses, Crouch. Subs: Muniesa, Walters, Cameron, Sidwell, Assaidi, Bojan, Sorensen.

Swansea: Fabianski, Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor, Ki, Carroll, Dyer, Sigurdsson, Routledge, Bony. Subs: Emnes, Gomis, Montero, Tremmel, Bartley, Shephard, Fulton.

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

Stephen Ireland is named in the Stoke starting line-up and is one of three changes to the team which lost 3-1 to Sunderland. Erik Pieters and Mame Biram Diouf are the others to get the nod from boss Mark Hughes.

Swansea City make two changes to the team which drew 2-2 against Newcastle before the international break. Angel Rangel returns from his suspension in place of Jazz Richards and Tom Carroll replaces the suspended Jonjo Shelvey.

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Timmy Tour: QPR defenders had one simple message: Don't let Mario Balotelli score! And they did what they had to do to stop him.

The Premier League's brilliant, isn't it? Three goals in injury time - four in the final nine minutes. All this just 24 hours after Manchester City beat Tottenham 4-1 in a match of four penalties, four goals for Sergio Aguero and a sending-off. Super numbers, super drama.

BBC Radio Merseyside

Former Liverpool midfielder Jimmy Case: "It was one of those games where supporters will be thinking: 'What happened there? It is all so, so bizarre.

"There was no clear indication who was going to win that game. It opened up so much and you have to pay tribute to both sides, they played their part and it could have gone either way, but the Liverpool players showed great character to believe they could still win it."

FULL-TIME

And breathe.

GOAL

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Incredible. Simply incredible.

From a QPR free-kick, Liverpool win the ball back and pour forward. Philippe Coutinho plays a precision pass into the feet of Raheem Sterling who squares in the direction of Mario Balotelli but the ball hits the foot of Steven Caulker who diverts past his own keeper.

He can barely believe it. I can barely believe it. You better believe it - Liverpool have all three points. I think.

BBC Radio Merseyside

Former Liverpool midfielder Jimmy Case: "You cannot write this, it is unbelievable. After a superb counter-attacking goal for Liverpool, they then go and concede and you almost knew it would be from a set-piece."

CLOSE!

Mario Balotelli from six yards out? Poked wide...

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Richard: What is happening? Is this basketball!?

GOAL

AFP

Eduardo Vargas gets to the near post and flicks in a perfect header from a corner that creeps over the line despite Simon Mignolet's best efforts on the line. Goal Decision System comes into play and the goal is given. Incredible finish.

GOAL

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Just seconds after Rangers are denied a second by Martin Skrtel's superb defending on the line, Liverpool sweep forward through Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerrard plays a cute pass into Philippe Coutinho who cuts inside and bends a low shot beyond Alex McCarthy.

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Tesfay: The Liverpool were just waiting for QPR to score. They can't clear a ball.

BBC Radio Merseyside

Former Liverpool midfielder Jimmy Case: "You could see it coming. There was no real endeavour to clear the ball. There were two little headers by the smallest players on the pitch, in the box, and I think it was Jose Enrique who lost his man.

"Once the ball has gone away from you, get back in the danger area, don't just watch the ball. Mario Balotelli could have put it to bed but now it is a long three minutes for Liverpool. The goal has lifted QPR. They are trying to get the winner now and the crowd is right behind them."

GOAL

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That thing floating above Loftus Road? It's the roof, which has been raised by the relieved Rangers supporters. They finally get the goal they deserve when Eduardo Vargas comes alive in the six-yard box and smashes the ball home after Charlie Austin's header back across goal at the back stick.

More shoddy defending from Liverpool - particularly Jose Enrique whose initial weak header allowed Rangers another chance to pump the ball into the box, before he failed to pick up Vargas's run.

BBC Radio Merseyside

Former Liverpool midfielder Jimmy Case: "There was a push in the back on Dejan Lovren before that chance for Armand Traore occurred, the referee missed that one.

"Liverpool have to get another goal if they can, it would just save the ending of this game being that bit tense. Mario Balotelli almost converted, only to find the legs of the goalkeeper."

Mario Balotelli with another chance - and this time he fires straight at the legs of Alex McCarthy.

Rangers are still in there fighting and they win a corner, which is worked back into the box after being initially cleared, and Armand Traore's close-range header is turned round the post by Simon Mignolet.

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John Dunthorpe: Mario Balotelli is a disgrace - he could learn all about playing for your team by watching Bobby Zamora's performance today.

Ash: Re: John, Belfast (see 77 mins): Bit unfair on David N'Gog and Emile Heskey as they scored goals or at least assisted. Must be a very loose translation at best.

SUBSTITUTION

Eduardo Vargas replaces Bobby Zamora up front for QPR, while Rangers midfielder Karl Henry is booked for a culmination of tackles.

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Poor old Richard Dunne. In the space of two entries below, it read: 'Great defending by Richard Dunne.' Then: 'Own goal by Richard Dunne'. It reminds me of a boxing live text I once did. 'Ding, ding, round one'. Next entry: 'Audley Harrison is knocked out in the first round'.

BBC

The ball breaks loose on the edge of the box and Charlie Austin bends an effort towards goal which is well saved by Simon Mignolet. At the other end, Mario Balotelli's powerful shot is blocked in the area at the end of a swift counter-attack.

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John, Belfast: Little known fact: 'Balotelli' is the Italian word for the French word 'Ngog'. Translates into English as 'Heskey'.

PENALTY APPEAL

Like a dazed fighter raising themselves from the canvas after being sucker-punched, Rangers have to somehow turn this around. They are a little bit shellshocked and also a little relieved when Mario Balotelli goes down in the area under Richard Dunne's challenge. No penalty, says the referee.

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John: There is no-one quite as prolific as Richard Dunne is against his own team.

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Simon Tilbury: Let's face it, that's the only way Liverpool were going to score.

BBC Radio Merseyside

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Former Liverpool midfielder Jimmy Case: "That is what a little bit of ingenuity gets you. Down on the side of the pitch Harry Redknapp is looking back at his staff and the faces on them, well they are going mad.

"Mario Balotelli might have got the finishing touch at the far post anyway but Richard Dunne made the fatal error."

GOAL

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Can you believe it? Richard Dunne scores the 10th own goal of his career - just sixty seconds after producing some superb defending. A quick free-kick is taken by Raheem Sterling and Glen Johnson drives a low cross into the box from the right where Richard Dunne gets his legs in a tangle and pokes past his own keeper. Rangers don't deserve that.

Tremendous defending from Richard Dunne as he cuts out Glen Johnson's cross with Mario Balotelli lurking.

SUBSTITUTION

Liverpool make a change, but Mario Balotelli remains on the field for now. Emre Can and Adam Lallana are hooked off and replaced by Joe Allen and Philippe Coutinho.

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Martin Thetford: Get Mario Balotelli off now. At least Rickie Lambert would put some effort in. And he would have scored that open goal.

BBC Radio Merseyside

Former Liverpool midfielder Jimmy Case: "The chance comes after a great run by Raheem Sterling, and Mario Balotelli, well in his defence it came off the 'keeper really fast and it was slightly behind him and high. He couldn't get over it and it's a shame because it would have done him the world of good. People will say it was a bad miss but to be fair it was a hard chance."

WHAT A MISS!

PA

Mario, Mario, Mario. The Italian's afternoon stumbles to a new low when he blazes over the bar from six yards out with an open net at his mercy. He was following up Adam Lallana's initial effort which was well saved by Alex McCarthy after good work down the right by Raheem Sterling. It was almost Ronnie Rosenthal-esque, that miss.

SUBSTITUTION

There's a break in play while Sandro receives treatment on the pitch. In fact, the Rangers midfielder is going to have to come off and Harry Redknapp beckons Armand Traore to go on.

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Vince, Peterborough: Note to Brendan Rodgers: You do have two other strikers on the bench you know!

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Mario Balotelli is at his frustrating worst today - Raheem Sterling busting a gut down the left and putting in a cross which the striker fails to show for. He just ambles into the box and ambles back out when the ball runs out of play.

Come on QPR. You really need to make these chances count now. This time Charlie Austin flashes a shot across the face of goal from a tight angle. Again, Liverpool's defending looked about as sturdy as a chocolate fireguard.

It's taken until the 52nd minute but Bobby Zamora has finally missed out on a header - Charlie Austin's cross sailing over the striker's head.

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Barry Fong: Even an out-of-form Fernando Torres seems a better bet than Mario Balotelli at the moment. Can we swap? Oh wait, Milan already did.

BBC Radio Merseyside

Former Liverpool midfielder Jimmy Case: "That is a great save from Simon Mignolet (47 mins), I know he is criticised for his distribution and earlier I criticised him for a decision to claim a cross, but that is what he is good at - shot-stopping. He saw the ball late, and Sandro packs a punch as well, but he got across really well with a good firm hand."

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A lightning-fast break from Liverpool almost catches out QPR, with Jordan Henderson eventually driving a shot wide of the post.

GREAT SAVE!

It's embarrassing the ease with which Bobby Zamora continues to win headers against Dejan Lovren. After winning another aerial duel, Zamora sets Matty Phillips free down the right and the winger's cross is only cleared as far as Sandro whose powerful shot from just inside the area is superbly tipped wide by Simon Mignolet.

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Steve Wilson

BBC Match of the Day commentator

"Richard Dunne is quite a big lad. Imagine what he must weigh with Mario Balotelli in his pocket..."

KICK-OFF

We're back under way, and Rangers have made a change - Matt Phillips replacing Nedum Onuoha who has picked up a hamstring strain. Mauricio Isla drops back into defence.

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Tom Shardlow: Leroy Fer is engaged in his own personal version of the crossbar challenge. Liverpool lost without a reliable centre-forward.

Dan Stobbs: Surely Steven Gerrard's chance shows that he should still be playing higher up the pitch? Was our best chance of the match so far.

MFJ: Don't worry Sunderland fans. After Wednesday night, your team won't be the only one that's lost 8-0 this season.

Based on the evidence of Mario Balotelli's performance today, the Italian striker might find his name being put into one of Brendan Rodgers' infamous envelopes.

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Matt, Wirral: Can someone explain how Mario Balotelli merits a starting place practically every week? Is Brendan Rodgers choosing him because he is the more glamorous name? Time to give hungry players like Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert a run in the team.

"Balotelli a waste of space"

BBC Radio Merseyside

Former Liverpool midfielder Jimmy Case: "Liverpool have to push out a little bit more. And to be bitterly honest Mario Balotelli is a waste of space at the minute. He is just not a team player.

"Liverpool could have been ahead with a bit more luck but you only get breaks like that if you are consistent in your play. QPR meanwhile could easily have been 1-0 up at least. Even though they are not playing through Liverpool but are playing off Bobby Zamora, bringing people into the game around the box."

BBC

I should mention that, just before the half-time whistle went, Mario Balotelli dragged a horrible low shot wide at the end of a promising move, started by Raheem Sterling. The Italian just can't do anything right today, it seems.

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Steven Jerjian: Soft in defence, no leadership in midfield, and powder puff in attack. Work to do to get top four, let alone anything else for Liverpool.

Sam Epum: Liverpool now playing like the Liverpool we know. One season of bliss and they are gone again. Real Madrid will tear them apart.

Jamie Cockayne: Just going through the match stats and it sounds as though Glen Johnson is more of an attacking threat than Mario Balotelli.

HALF-TIME

Jonathan Pearce

BBC MOTD commentator at Loftus Road

"QPR could have been ahead with Leroy Fer hitting the woodwork twice and Charlie Austin also going close. QPR are unlucky not to lead at the break."

Reuters

"Get Steven Gerrard off," says Max Welford. Sixty seconds later, the Liverpool midfielder almost gives his side a barely deserved lead. He is picked out by Mario Balotelli after breaking from midfield and he checks inside - taking out two Rangers players in the process - before curling a low shot just wide of the far post.

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Max Welford: Get Steven Gerrard off! He contributes absolutely nothing! Plus, he's getting in the way of Adam Lallana, Emre Can and Jordan Henderson.

Karl Cobane: Can managing to make Joe Allen look decent today.

Matt Harding: Seems like Southampton knew exactly what they were doing getting rid of Lallana and Dejan Lovren to Liverpool!

Sandro is taking a few knocks for his team today - being caught in the unmentionables by Emre Can's late challenge. A free-kick is subsequently awarded 25 yards from goal and Bobby Zamora smashes it over the bar.

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Brendan Rodgers looks like a bulldog chewing a wasp as his side lurch from one mistake to the next. QPR need to make their dominance count now.

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Barney Kiddle: This Liverpool defence can't handle Bobby Zamora. Cristiano Ronaldo must be licking his lips.

Scott Parks: Mario Balotelli looks bored. And is due a sending off.

Paul Walmsley: I can't work out which is the bottom of the table team here.

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Liverpool's defence just can't cope with Bobby Zamora. He is bullying them - and being given chance after chance to put crosses into the box. In other news, Sandro has stud marks on his torso from Glen Johnson's last-ditch defending earlier. That'll hurt in the morning. In fact, it's probably hurting now.

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Nic Billot: If Liverpool are making QPR look like Real Madrid, who are they going to make Madrid look like?

Jake Laxton: Real are going to make us look like a primary school second team if we keep playing like this.

Minhaz Uddin: Re: Dejan Lovren's £20m valuation, Liverpool are a club who paid £35m for Andy Carroll!

Mario Balotelli is having one of those days - one of those days where you just don't fancy him to do anything positive. This time he balloons a lazy effort over the bar from the edge of the area.

BBC Radio Merseyside

Former Liverpool midfielder Jimmy Case: "Talk about disarray. Unbelievable. Simon Mignolet came to claim the cross as if he had a big 'S' on his shirt like Superman, but he didn't get anywhere near the ball. Liverpool cannot give Leroy Fer another chance because it will be third time lucky."

HITS THE WOODWORK

How are QPR not in the lead? Again, they hit the bar - and again it's Leroy Fer, this time with a header from Bobby Zamora's cross. Sandro tries to force home the follow-up but last-ditch defending from Glen Johnson saves Liverpool and the ball is cleared off the line. Liverpool are on the rack.

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Aashish: Misses going to cost QPR. Two great chances so far.

John Pierce: So how many goals do we think Cristiano Ronaldo will score against this Liverpool defence? They should be worried.

Liverpool just aren't at the races today. Glen Johnson is given plenty of room to cut in from the right but his low shot is well wide.

BBC Radio Merseyside

Former Liverpool midfielder Jimmy Case: "Simon Mignolet saw it coming and was off the line - but there was not enough presence from the likes of Glen Johnson to make a block. Leroy Fer had to lift the ball slightly and just lifted it a bit too much.

"The Liverpool players are looking at each other on the pitch. Steven Gerrard has been having a go at Jose Enrique for not playing the ball forward quick enough. Liverpool have not gelled together."

HITS THE WOODWORK

AFP

How did he miss that? Rangers slice open Liverpool again and, with Dejan Lovren all at sea, Bobby Zamora squares for Leroy Fer who races into the box like a young Paul Scholes before clubbing a rising shot against the bar. From eight yards out. Got to score.

Even with the sun in his eyes, Harry would have scored that.

Mario Balotelli picks up the ball on the edge of the area and fires in a pretty tame shot which is easily saved by Alex McCarthy.

Ever raced into the opponent's half and realised you're in total control? Then panicked? That's precisely what Rangers midfielder Yun Suk-Young does when he dispossess Raheem Sterling in his own half and gets the ball back before flying down the right flank. Then smashing the ball from the halfway line and out of play. A moment to forget for the South Korean.

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Liam Stones: I still can't understand how Dejan Lovren is worth £20m. Even if he was English he wouldn't be worth that.

BBC Radio Merseyside

Former Liverpool midfielder Jimmy Case: "All season Liverpool have had problems defending free-kicks. We need to deal with situations like that a bit better, and QPR have looked at it and thought they can score that way.

"At the moment Liverpool are not in the game at all. You would expect them to try and get the ball out further wide."

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Finally some quality from Liverpool as Adam Lallana looks up on the halfway line and plays a defence-splitting pass through to Jordan Henderson, but the linesman's flag goes up with the midfielder through on goal. Replays show Henderson was clearly on side. Poor decision.

Harry Redknapp is chuntering to himself on the bench. It might be because the sun is in his eyes, because there's nothing for him to worry about with this performance so far. Rangers are quite wasteful in good areas, though - a free-kick just inside Liverpool's half being harmlessly punted towards the corner flag.

AFP

A few of you are having a bit of fun with this Raheem Sterling story, judging by the tweets sent in below. How long before the Liverpool forward is doing commercials for beds?

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AKarim: Even QPR's awful attack is worrying this Liverpool defence. Already worried.

Tom Thrall: Raheem Sterling looks tired if you asked me...

Mohammed Danyal: 'He sleeps when he wants, he sleeps when he wants... Raheem Sterling, he sleeps when he wants.'

It's about this time of year when Mario Balotelli starts getting into trouble with fireworks. There's no spark from the Liverpool striker just yet though, as he is robbed of possession by Steven Caulker when well placed in the QPR penalty area following Raheem Sterling's visionary pass.

BBC Radio Merseyside

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Former Liverpool midfielder Jimmy Case: "If you get only there bits of luck in every match, Charlie Austin had all of it there (9 mins). Every challenge he went into he just kept going and came out with the ball every time. Fair play to him.

"QPR are getting balls in early and Dejan Lovren is having a bit of a torrid time with Bobby Zamora at the moment. The players around Zamora need to be picked up. Emre Can is doing a lot of work but there are a lot of players coming in that area for QPR."

Liverpool aren't enjoying being pressed back by QPR, and the Reds aren't able to counter-attack because the hosts are so quick to win the ball back when they lose it.

CLOSE!

PA

Half-hearted defending from both Glen Johnson and Martin Skrtel as Charlie Austin bulldozes through and finds himself in on goal. His first effort is well saved by the onrushing Simon Mignolet, before his follow-up goes into the side-netting.

SHOWBOAT

QPR's Nedum Onuoha is bossing the right flank at the moment - leaving Adam Lallana on his back-side with one particular piece of showboating. He and Mauricio Isla are linking up well without actually getting a decent cross in.

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Ash: QPR's attack isn't great but I can't help but feel they'll still find gaps in this Liverpool defence. I miss Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia.

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Former Blackburn striker Jason Roberts

"Alex McCarthy will be England's number one one day."

QPR are chasing down every ball this afternoon - Raheem Sterling running down a blind alley as the Rangers defence stands firm and organised early on.

Don't be dropping your water bottle, Jimmy (see below). An injured winger is the last thing Harry or Brendan need.

BBC Radio

Former Liverpool midfielder Jimmy Case on BBC Radio Merseyside: "We are right on top of the pitch in the commentary position; if I dropped my plastic bottle it would fall on a winger. And the pitch on this side is totally covered in shade. I played and scored here for Liverpool, and when you played on this side of the pitch it was totally boggy. You couldn't wait to get over onto the other side of the pitch in the second half.

"Arsenal and Tottenham have dropped points this weekend, and this is the ideal game for Liverpool to jump up on them. They will have to be on full concentration levels though."

An early chance for QPR, who are already seeing the benefits of playing two up top when Bobby Zamora chests the ball down for Charlie Austin who blazes over the bar.

KICK-OFF

Here we go then. Can QPR lift themselves off the bottom of the table? Will Liverpool catapult themselves into the top four? Let's find out.

England manager Roy Hodgson is welcomed to Loftus Road by Les Ferdinand's warm handshake. Sunday the day of rest? Not for Roy.

AFP

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John McEnerney: Rio Ferdinand is past his best but in a game like this he could roll back the years and his experience is invaluable. Mad Mario Balotelli to run riot!

Wyse Choice College: Glad to see Glen Johnson starting. He looked decent last time out but Jose Enrique looked slow and rusty. Hope he is sharp now.

If Brendan Rodgers is spotted with a hammer and a pack of nails in the next 10 minutes, it's not because he's been on a Sunday morning DIY dash. Nope, the Liverpool boss is most probably putting a newspaper cutting on the dressing room wall after Harry Redknapp said the Reds were not title contenders this season.

"I thought they were great last year," said Redknapp. "(But) they have lost the fourth best player in the world in Luis Suarez and it is difficult to replace him but they have got lots of good players there. Again, they are bedding in new players and it takes time.

"They will be there pushing for a Champions League place again this year I'm sure - I don't see them winning the league this year."

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Tim, Marlow: It's muddle-headed to say that because Lionel Messi doesn't suffer from tiredness, nor should Raheem Sterling (see 12:57). The Spanish game is mostly played at walking pace - and whereas the average Barcelona player covers about 10km per game, Messi averages only 6km. Sterling also regularly clocks up 10km per game, and at the World Cup, he covered nearly 30% more metres per game than Messi. I'll get my coat.

PA

QPR boss Harry Redknapp on the reasons behind his much-changed starting XI: "Rob Green woke up this morning with tonsillitis so that was that one. Rio Ferdinand had a bit of a groin problem, has had an injection and hasn't been able to train. Other than that we just decided to change it around a bit.

"Bobby Zamora is a good player, we want to start him, and there's no one better than him to hold the ball up. Charlie Austin needs some help and we've been positive by picking two strikers.

"We're at home and we've got to have a go."

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Kahill: Where's the creativity in this QPR team? No wonder they've been woeful all season.

Ahmer Murad: Unlikely to be a pretty game today. Three points is what's important though.

Paul Walmsley: As a Liverpool fan I'm worried today. I know QPR haven't started well but where are the goals going to come from?

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So, Harry's had a brew with Tony Fernandes and all is well and good.

That will please QPR striker Bobby Zamora, who believes it would be "crazy" for the club to sack Redknapp.

"Harry has a wealth of experience and has seen it all. We are all behind him," Zamora said. "He brought most of us in. Harry has supported us and wanted us here. Everyone is behind him and now we have just got to do our part on a match day.

"The press are perhaps making more of this and we are all asked the same question. It hasn't come to the point where it's panic stations - far from it."

In his column in the Sun on Sunday, QPR boss Harry Redknapp says he is "fed up" with speculation over his future and wants to get on with his job. "I had a meeting with the chairman Tony Fernandes on Friday. It was a quick cup of coffee and didn't last longer than about 20 minutes. And the one subject that didn't arise was my future. I just hope we can repay his faith with a good result against Liverpool today."

"How on earth are QPR going to stay up?"

Former Wales international Robbie Savage

BBC Sport

"It looks like it is a good time for Liverpool to be going to Loftus Road. QPR have made an awful start to the season and their biggest problem has been their work-rate.

"What was a real worry was hearing QPR manager Harry Redknapp talk about how his players are not fit enough at this stage of the season. That shocked me, because energy is the very least they will need as a newly-promoted team if they are going to avoid relegation.

"If QPR are also not good enough technically, then how on earth are they going to stay up? They are bottom of the table after seven games and Redknapp clearly has a lot to sort out."

You can read more from Robbie in his BBC Sport column.

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James Pascoe: So pleased Emre Can is starting for Liverpool. Hope he can shore up our uncreative midfield.

On the Continent

Spanish La Liga

EPA

Think you've had an early start for QPR v Liverpool? Then spare a thought for Atletico Madrid and Espanyol fans, whose teams have just finished their La Liga clash.

Spanish champions Atletico have cut the gap on leaders Barcelona to five points with a 2-0 win.

Ex-Chelsea midfielder Tiago put them ahead moments before the break and Mario Suarez doubled their lead midway through the second half.

In today's newspapers, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has dismissed speculation linking him with a move for Raheem Sterling.

The 19-year-old, who has risen to prominence for both the Reds and England in the last 12 months, is yet to agree a new deal at Anfield and there have been suggestions that Los Blancos were keen to lure him to Spain.

"Sterling is a player of great quality, certainly one of the best in Europe," Ancelotti told The Sun on Sunday. "But we already have extraordinary talent here."

"To think of another striker for the Real Madrid attack is really extremely difficult. It's clear that Sterling is not in our plans."

Liverpool team news

Will he start? Will he be on the bench? Now we know. Raheem Sterling, who began his youth career at QPR as a teenager, keeps his place in Brendan Rodgers' starting line up.

Rodgers makes four changes from the 2-1 home win against West Brom, with England right-back Glen Johnson making his first start since 25 August after injury.

Italy striker Mario Balotelli, who is still looking for his first Premier League goal for the Reds, is recalled, while left-back Jose Enrique and midfielder Emre Can also start.

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Aynsley Gray: Reserve keeper starting for QPR. Can only mean one thing. He'll have a blinder. Man of the match for Alex McCarthy.

QPR team news

QPR boss Harry Redknapp makes five changes as the newly-promoted side aim to climb off the foot of the table.

Summer signing Rio Ferdinand is left out after starting all seven of their previous matches, with Richard Dunne taking his place. England keeper Rob Green is missing with tonsillitis so ex-Reading stopper Alex McCarthy makes his first Premier League start.

Striker Bobby Zamora comes in to captain the side, while wing-backs Yun Suk-Young and Mauricio Isla are the other new faces from the 2-0 defeat at West Ham.

Former England captain Alan Shearer

MOTD 2 Extra

"With Sergio Aguero, 90% of his game is played on the half-turn between defenders. He has great control and vision. We talk about painting pictures before the ball arrives to you and he is a genius at that. He is a top, top player and I am huge fan.

"Defenders can't handle him and he proved that again yesterday. He had Younes Kaboul one-on-one and then he had Jan Vertonghen one-on-one. And he is equally effective going either way. His first was cutting in from the left onto his right and the fourth cutting in from the right onto his left."

So, yesterday Sergio Aguero was compared to Mozart by Mauricio Pochettino. Today, Alan Shearer has alluded to the Argentine being an artist...

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Tanay Apte: Remember what Alex McCarthy did last time he started against Liverpool for Reading? Seriously hope that is not the case today.

The Sterling saga

Former England captain Alan Shearer

MOTD 2 Extra

"Brendan Rodgers' loyalty lies with Liverpool, not with England. It is a difficult problem for managers, letting players go if they get a knock. Look what has happened to Liverpool since Daniel Sturridge got injured. I would love to know what Raheem Sterling said, but what I would say is that you are very rarely 100% fit going into any football match. I do not know what burnout is.

AFP

"Lionel Messi started international football at 17, went through the U20s, U23s, and now he has 96 caps with Argentina. He played last week in Beijing, and he plays every single week for Barcelona and is the best player I have seen in my life. He never wants to sit out a game.

"Sir Alex Ferguson used to send two or three of his players away for a week in January to recover, but in October? When you have played hardly any games? We often talk about Michael Owen being an example of burnout, but he has said he had his hamstring injury irrespective of tiredness, that it was hereditary. I don't know what burnout is. Has Messi had burnout?"

MOTD2 Extra

Sunday Times correspondent Jonathan Northcroft on Raheem Sterling, who starts for Liverpool this afternoon: "Gary Neville was saying today that back in 1997/98 he was feeling tired and went to Alex Ferguson and asked for rest so I don't think it's new. The difficulty with Sterling is that Brendan Rodgers played him for 120 minutes in the League Cup and Roy Hodgson played him against San Marino. Why start Sterling against San Marino when the issue has been flagged up already?

"What he told to the England camp was that his muscles felt tired. Glen Johnson and the people at Liverpool feel the England camp have misrepresented Sterling."

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Following Sunderland's 8-0 defeat away to Southampton on Saturday, we are asking: What's the worst defeat you have ever suffered in sport?

Steve Everard, West Chiltington, West Sussex: Back in 1986 I was playing in goal semi-pro and our game was called off so I turned out for Dulwich Sports & Social Club against a team from Stockwell. Two of my team mates played as well but we still only had 10 men. One of my mates scored early but after that it was like the Alamo! We were 2-1 down at half-time and conceded 19 more the second half. None of them were my fault obviously...

Get in touch on Twitter using #bbcfootball, send us a text on 81111 (UK only), or post a comment on the BBC Sport Facebook or Google+ pages.

Former England captain Alan Shearer

MOTD 2 Extra

"It was a foul on Mathieu Flamini in the build-up to Hull's first goal, but we would not have seen Patrick Vieira being pulled back like that. He would not have been bullied.

"Arsenal need a top class centre-half, a sitting midfielder and maybe a goalkeeper. Arsene Wenger did say he tried to bring someone in at the end of the window. Who that is we don't know. But I still think they will still finish in the top four."

MOTD2 Extra

Sunday Times correspondent Jonathan Northcroft: "The difficulty is that Arsene Wenger showed more defiance in his post-match interview than his defence did against Hull. He can't hide from what happened in the second half. There's also the holding midfielder issue, there are players out there. He's just got this thing about always looking to the future which is admirable, but I don't think he addresses the now."

Wenger grilled by BBC reporter

PA

When I was driving home last night, the football phone-ins were dominated by Arsenal supporters criticising Arsene Wenger. Those who felt the urge to pick up the phone felt the Gunners manager should be coming under a bit more pressure for his job.

The Frenchman was prickly in his post-match interview after a 2-2 home draw against Hull, when he was grilled by the BBC's Jacqui Oatley. View the video here.

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Alex Bigden: I am a season ticket holder at Crystal Palace and what Garth Crooks has said about Neil Warnock today is disgraceful (see 12:15). I was there, as I always am, and Warnock was telling the players to come away from the referee as he always does, no matter the game or performance. He has always done that. And for a person who watches Palace only when told to suggest otherwise is inaccurate and poor reporting. It also totally detracts from what was a good game, despite a poor performance from the referee.

BREAKING TEAM NEWS

Former England captain Rio Ferdinand is dropped to the bench by QPR boss Harry Redknapp.

QPR starting XI: McCarthy, Isla, Onuoha, Dunne, Caulker, Suk-Young, Henry, Fer, Sandro, Austin, Zamora.

MOTD2 Extra

Match of the Day commentator Steve Bower: "I think Southampton's performance against Liverpool in the first game of the season was the platform. OK, they lost that game but they were unlucky. Dusan Tadic said afterwards that the players clicked straight away, which was the absolute opposite of what we were all saying would happen.

"I was at Newcastle yesterday, where the kick-off was delayed until 16:00 BST. When news of the result went around St James Park there was a bigger cheer than when Gabriel Obertan scored. To lose 8-0 away to Southampton might be damaging psychologically for those Sunderland players."

BreakingBREAKING TEAM NEWS

Raheem Sterling starts for Liverpool against QPR at Loftus Road.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Lovren, Enrique, Gerrard, Can, Sterling, Henderson, Lallana, Balotelli. Subs: Jones, Manquillo, Toure, Allen, Coutinho, Lambert, Markovic.

Former England captain Alan Shearer

MOTD 2 Extra

"Keeping hold of Morgan Schneiderlin was big for Southampton. The way Ronald Koeman handled that situation was excellent. Dusan Tadic, it is hard to judge him from yesterday when you have that much time on the ball, but his balls into the box were top quality, he picked the players out, and I was very impressed. £11m from FC Twente, Koeman knows him from his time in Dutch football, as he knows Graziano Pelle from Feynoord."

MOTD2 Extra

Sunday Times correspondent Jonathan Northcroft: "Southampton had the killer instinct and even at 4-0 they weren't satisfied. It was skewed by a lack of fight by Sunderland. It's not just two own goals, they went from 6-0 to 7-0 from the kick-off. The team looks far away from what Gus Poyet represents. I expect it to be a tough week for the Sunderland players.

"Sunderland were unlucky with the penalty, but there's no excuse on how they reacted afterwards. Maybe it was an aberration. Poyet signed a lot of those players and I feel he got the selection wrong because he had a lot of attacking players. To go away to Southampton with so many attacking players, maybe he got it wrong as well."

Former England captain Alan Shearer

MOTD 2 Extra

"Southampton didn't have to play that well. Obviously the own goal helped them. The lack of effort, the lack of professionalism from Sunderland, was unacceptable. There were players who were not trying."

Over on MOTD2 Extra, the panel is discussing Southampton's thumping 8-0 victory against Sunderland...

"Sterling hung out to dry"

Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson

Football Focus

"I think Raheem Sterling has been hung out to dry by Roy Hodgson, I really do. It was a conversation between themselves. He had the 'cojones' to go to his manager and admit he was a bit tired. I think it's all a bit strange."

On Friday, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers criticised the media's treatment of Raheem Sterling in the past week as "grossly unfair".

The Sterling saga

Sir Trevor Brooking, the FA's former director of football development: On Raheem Sterling playing so many games:

"What's been the problem for Liverpool is Daniel Sturridge being injured as well. Mario Balotelli has not come in and scored, so wherever you look it's not quite picked up from the tail end of last season where they were fantastic, Liverpool. So the spotlight comes on Raheem.

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"At the moment for Liverpool where they just need to get that couple of wins he's going to have to play if you're in Brendan Rodgers' position because he's without Sturridge, Luis Suarez has gone and one or two others are struggling with their form."

Sympathy for Sterling

Former Manchester United defender Phil Neville

Football Focus

"The situation between Liverpool and England with Raheem Sterling, they need to sort it out now, because it is not healthy for either of them.

"I do feel sympathy for Sterling. He probably went to see Roy Hodgson and said he was tired, and maybe that could have been kept behind closed doors. But resting him now will see him perform better in the latter stages of this season.

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"Daniel Sturridge's injury is a real blow for Liverpool. They needed speed, they have missed it over the last month, but Sturridge has always had a problem staying fit for the whole of the season."

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Al Mamum Russell: If Raheem Sterling plays the full 90 minutes today, will it douse the fire or spark new flames?

The Sterling saga

BBC Radio 5 live

Sportsweek

Sir Trevor Brooking, the FA's former director of football development: On whether it would have been better for England manager Roy Hodgson not to make public the reasons for Raheem Sterling being left out of the team:

"Raheem's problem is he's the outstanding current player for Liverpool and for his country so suddenly everyone assumes he's an automatic selection. In the second game, if he had not started him everyone would have asked: 'Why is he not playing?'

"Roy tends to be open and honest so this one has come back to bite. What's been unfair during the week is it's almost grown to where they say: 'He didn't want to play' - which is a nonsense.

"He played in the U17 World Cup, he always turned up for the team, he likes playing for England, he's played well for us in the different age groups and is going to be a top player for us moving forward.

"You've got to remember he came on for 20 minutes and got the free-kick which gave England the win. He's a key man for both teams at the moment - that's the problem."

Sterling's week to forget

Will Raheem Sterling get a game today? It's been a difficult week for the youngster, after he missed England's victory in Estonia last weekend.

England manager Roy Hodgson claimed the 19-year-old asked to sit out the 1-0 win in Estonia because of fatigue, but Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has criticised the treatment of Sterling as "grossly unfair".

"It has been grossly unfair how the kid has been put on the back pages for something he clearly did not say," said Rodgers.

One man who won't be involved today is Daniel Sturridge, who has suffered a setback in his return from injury. It could be another month before we see the England striker back in action.

"He's looking at being out for two to four weeks," Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo. "It's a big blow as we were looking forward to welcoming Daniel back. He has worked tirelessly.

"But we have other players training hard and working hard and we will turn to them. It's why we bulked up the squad in the summer."

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Following Sunderland's 8-0 defeat away to Southampton on Saturday, we are asking: What's the worst defeat you have ever suffered in sport?

Dion Farnes: Lost 17-0 to the Goose & Gander 2nd XI, made more remarkable by the fact they used a real scarecrow as a goalkeeper.

Owen Webster: My team lost 16-0 when we were U10s. I was in goal but still got man of the match somehow. 'Kept the score down' apparently!.

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MOTD2 Extra

Enjoying a spot of Sunday brunch? Why not enjoy your food while watching Match of the Day 2 Extra? Mark Chapman is joined by Alan Shearer, commentator Steve Bower and Sunday Times football correspondent Jonathan Northcroft. BBC One now. Or watch via this page.

Warnock behaviour disgusting - Garth Crooks

BBC Sport

"I don't think Neil Warnock or any manager has the right to tell his players whether or not to shake the referee's hand. For a manager to go on the pitch and do that is disgusting. The manager should be taking the lead on behaviour of his players."

Warnock's rage

The Chelsea juggernaut steamrollered on yesterday. Their 10 men proved better than the 10 men of Crystal Palace in a 2-1 win.

Not that Neil Warnock was too impressed. The Eagles boss has since claimed referee Craig Pawson was "influenced" by Chelsea players during the game.

"The one thing I've not missed when I've been doing media work is refereeing performances like that," Warnock raged. "I thought he was influenced today."

How good is Sergio?

Reuters

Like your stats? Wondering how Manchester City's four-goal hero Sergio Aguero compares with the best players in the world? Well, wonder no more because BBC Sport's Chris Bevan has compiled all the stats for you in this feature.

Big Sam's birthday night out

Getty Images

I wonder how Big Sam's feeling today? The West Ham manager saw his side move into the top four of the Premier League with victory at Burnley... then went on a big night out in the north west with friends to celebrate his 60th birthday.

I can picture it now. It's just gone midnight in the Phoenix Club and Big Sam's throwing some shapes to the cabaret act - top button undone and tie around his head...

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Following Sunderland's 8-0 defeat away to Southampton on Saturday, we are asking: What's the worst defeat you have ever suffered in sport?

Stewie-Wright-Taylor: Once lost 2-0 on the final day to lose the title, after me and my fellow striker were both sent off in the opening seven minutes.

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Saturday in the stands

Football fans across Europe were in fine form this Saturday, with banners and stunts ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous.

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Crystal Palace supporters displayed this banner referencing the impact Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has had on English football since his enormous financial investment in the Blues.

BBC

Fans of Turkish club Galatasaray recreated the moment former manager Graeme Souness planted their flag in the centre-circle of Istanbul rivals Fenerbahce after winning the Turkish Cup in 1996. Steve Crossman, of the BBC World Service, took this picture.

@samuelfoyle

And one cheeky Southampton fan, Samuel Foyle, displayed little grace in victory after picturing himself with Sunderland defender Santiago Vergini, who scored a spectacular own-goal in his side's 8-0 defeat.

BBC Radio 5 live

Sportsweek

Former Southampton and Sunderland manager Lawrie McMenemy: "Up until yesterday Sunderland had only lost one game and conceded seven. That was doubled after 90 minutes. I felt sorry for the supporters, who were fantastic, the more goals their team conceded the louder they sang. And they had a seven or eight-hour trip home after that. It was one of those games that people in the future will say: 'I was there'. 8-0 in the Premier League, it is unbelievable.

Getty Images

"I've been to every home Southampton game so far this year and before the season started we just expected the worst. The door was open and players were trotting out. But Ronald Koeman has done a fantastic job. He's put a team together, when any professional would have thought they would have taken time to gel. But top eight is a possibility, and after yesterday you are looking at them thinking: 'Bring it on!' The players who left in the summer are not forgotten, but they are not missed either."

Alan Shearer, on Match of the Day

"Sunderland were absolutely woeful, embarrassing. The players downed tools far too early. I'll be fascinated to see Gus Poyet's team next weekend. They all deserve to be left out because it was terrible."

"Koeman deserves a tremendous amount of credit. He has brought players in and they have gelled so quickly."

Poyet embarassed

So what did Gus Poyet actually think about yesterday's early Halloween horror show at St Mary's? Well, he described it as his "most embarrassing" moment in football.

"I cannot watch it again," said Poyet, 46. "I learned a lot about the players - the bad side as some gave up and I know who they are for the future. I feel very sorry for the fans."

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So how do you get over a defeat like Sunderland's? I once asked a football manager how he spent the next day following a 5-0 defeat. "By hiding under the duvet and watching Bridget Jones's Diary," he said. I think he was joking - I doubt Gus Poyet will be watching chick flicks and eating a giant tub of ice cream while sat in his pyjamas.

So, what's the worst defeat you have ever suffered in sport? I once played in a 5-a-side game which lasted 40 minutes and my team were lucky to escape with a 32-0 defeat. True story. I think the other team had a bunch of ringers playing for them.

That's your early debate for today. Keep it clean, and let's make it entertaining.

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Coming up

But today, as I'm sure you are all aware, is another day in the Premier League. And while we'll briefly dissect the best and worst of yesterday's action, there's plenty of other things to look forward to - chiefly, the two matches which are coming our way.

First of all, Liverpool travel to bottom club QPR for a 1.30pm (BST) kick-off. At 4pm, it's Stoke v Swansea.

Will Gus Poyet be watching the games from the sanctuary of his living room? Or will he have his players in for extra training - what's the biggest hill in Sunderland to run up? The Black Cats might well be scaling it today.

The long road back

As bad days in the office go, I think Sunderland's is right up there. Imagine the 330-mile coach trip back.

Did anybody dare sit within six chairs of the gaffer? Did anybody dare to ask the manager for a toilet stop? Did anybody dare to read the online match reports?

I suspect the answer is a definitive 'no'.

That sinking feeling

Getty Images

You wake up on a Sunday morning and it hits you. Did I really do that? Did that really happen? Oh no!

Yes, Santiago Vergini... you really did volley a spectacular goal past your own keeper. And yes, it did lay the foundations for an 8-0 defeat.

Unfortunately, Santiago, your name will always be spoken about in the same breath as Jamie Pollock, Chris Brass and Frank Sinclair.