Liverpool v QPR

1. Liverpool: Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Lovren, Johnson, Gerrard, Henderson, Lallana, Sterling, Coutinho, Lambert. Subs: Toure, Moreno, Lucas, Allen, Ibe, Markovic, Ward.
2. QPR: Green, Onuoha, Dunne, Caulker, Hill, Phillips, Barton, Sandro, Henry, Fer, Austin. Subs: Wright-Phillips, McCarthy, Yun, Kranjcar, Hoilett, Zamora, Grego-Cox.

John Hartson at Anfield

BBC Radio 5 live

"It was a subdued first half but Liverpool went in ahead at half-time and then they had the chance to put the game to bed but there were bad missed by Sterling and Lallana before Gerrard missed a penalty.

"But he bounced back and won the game. It was a spirited performance by QPR they made Liverpool work hard but the circumstances were hard for them. They felt for their friend and colleague, it was a difficult day but they can be proud with the performance and they showed a lot of character."

FULL-TIME

YELLOW CARD

QPR's Charlie Austin is shown yellow for a push.

Bit a fracas in the Liverpool area which seems to involve Richard Dunne, Martin Skrtel and a handful of others. The end result is the Reds clear the ball.

John Hartson at Anfield

BBC Radio 5 live

"Only Steven Gerrard could do this, he misses a penalty at the Kop end and then five minutes later he does a brilliantly timed run, the ball is whipped in and he puts a bullet header to Rob Green's far post."

LIVERPOOL SUBSTITUTION

Steven Gerrard comes off. One more home fixture to go for the Reds and the skipper - thank goodness he scored eh?

GOAL

PA

He's done it. The captain extraordinaire Steven Gerrard heads in from Philippe Coutinho's corner. Is that the winner?

We are in the last five minutes. Liverpool are pressing forward.

John Hartson at Anfield

BBC Radio 5 live

"Who would have thought it - Liverpool have a chance to go 2-1 up and Steven Gerrard hits a decent penalty but Rob Green gets over and makes a really good save. Gerrard will be devastated."

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JdeSatge: Seems StevieG is going out with a whimper not a bang. A shame for his LFC career to end on such an anti-climax.

Oguda: The LA Galaxy player in a red shirt just missed a penalty

RED CARD TO QPR

Nedum Onuoha is sent off for a second bookable offence after bringing down Jordan Ibe in full flight. Onuoha received the first yellow for his earlier foul on Skrtel.

SAVED PENALTY

Getty Images

Oh dear! It's a poor strike by Steven Gerrard - Rob Green guesses correctly with his dive and pushes the effort away.

PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL

Nedum Onuoha pulls down Martin Skrtel. Steven Gerrard to take the spot-kick.

John Hartson at Anfield

BBC Radio 5 live

"The corner comes in and Fer makes really good contact and it flies in past Mignolet. He was totally unmarked on the penalty spot. Liverpool will rue their missed chances in the second-half from Sterling and Lallana and QPR are back in it."

YELLOW CARD

QPR's Richard Dunne is booked for a foul on Raheem Sterling.

A draw means QPR will be six points shy of safety. Just saying.

YELLOW CARD

Liverpool's Dejan Lovren is booked for bringing down Bobby Zamora.

GOAL

PA

Now then. Will Adam Lallana and Raheem Sterling be made to rue their misses? Leroy Fer equalises for QPR with a controlled volley Leroy Fer from Joey Barton's corner.

QPR SUBSTITUTION

Striker Bobby Zamora comes on for Karl Henry.

GREAT SAVE!

Steven Gerrard picks up the ball on the edge of the area, shifts to his right and fires wide. A corner follows, which results in Rob Green making a great save from Dejan Lovren's header.

LIVERPOOL SUBSTITUTION

Jordan Ibe comes on for Adam Lallana.

QPR manage to make Reds keeper Simon Mignolet work - sort of. Matt Phillips fires a relatively tame shot directly at the Belgian. That was an easy save.

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Stuart: Raheem Sterling wants a move to a bigger club and more money? Don't make me laugh! Can't cross, can't shoot and can't finish. Phillipe Coutinho the main man.

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Rickie Lambert gets a shot away and forces a low save from Rob Green after good work from Adam Lallana on the left.

John Hartson at Anfield

BBC Radio 5 live

"Already in the first 10 minutes we have had Lallana and Sterling miss chance and as time ticks away QPR will get a chance and Liverpool need that second goal to give them a cushion."

It's all rather quiet at Anfield - slight end of season feel, even though we are still a way away from the end of season. Where's that plane??

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Tom Holmes: Sublime from Henderson. Shocking from Sterling.

Ashley Tezoo: That 100k contract offer is looking pretty attractive after that glaring miss!! Shocker from Sterling

John Hartson at Anfield

BBC Radio 5 live

"What an opportunity that is for Liverpool. You talk about a chance, Henderson put that on a plate for Sterling. How much does he want a week? He should have put that away with his eyes closed."

Free-kick for Liverpool from 25 yards out. Rickie Lambert steps up and... fires his effort into the wall.

MISS!

That should have been two - or is that three. This was a bad miss. Watch it on Match of the Day later.

The ball is flung in from the right by Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling somehow scoops the ball over the bar from three yards out, at the far post.

John Hartson at Anfield

BBC Radio 5 live

"Liverpool need to raise the temp and lift the crowd. I went for a cup of tea at half-time and there were some disgruntled fans around me. They feel Liverpool have given up as a group for fourth place and they finished second last season. They put in a lame performance in the FA Cup semi-final and lost to United and there is the Rodgers situation and Gerrard leaving and they are not a happy bunch of fans and you can sense that atmosphere today"

Agree Liverpool fans?

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CLOSE!

Adam Lallana must score from eight yards, but he doesn't and slots his low shot half a foot wide, after being played in by Philippe Coutinho. He really should have doubled the lead.

Liverpool win an early corner after a firm back pass from Richard Dunne to Rob Green has to be hastily cleared by the keeper. The corner comes to nothing.

KICK-OFF

We are back under way.

QPR SUBSTITUTION

Yun Suk-young comes on for defender Steven Caulker, who has a suspected broken hand.

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John Hartson at Anfield

BBC Radio 5 live

"QPR have had a go but in all fairness it is the correct result that Liverpool go in at half-time ahead. It was a brilliant goal by Coutinho and good vision by Lambert. QPR have threatened and thrown bodies forward but Liverpool could have been two or three up by now."

BBC MOTD's Jonathan Pearce at Anfield

"QPR had goal disallowed early on. Liverpool got stronger and stronger and deserve the lead."

HALF-TIME

STOPPAGE TIME

One minute of time added on.

YELLOW CARD

Sandro goes into the book for going right through Jordan Henderson - that was perhaps borderline yellow-red. Meanwhile, Adam Lallana has to be pulled away from QPR's Clint Hill. No action taken with those two.

GREAT SAVE!

Reuters

...and Steven Gerrarrrrrrrrd... forces a great save from keeper Rob Green who dives to his left.

Emre Can is brought down by QPR midfielder Joey Barton - the Reds have a free-kick from 30 yards out.

Liverpool are pressing for a second before the break. They seem to be in control - but QPR look dangerous on the counter-attack.

John Hartson at Anfield

BBC Radio 5 live

"There is a very quiet and subdued atmosphere, the QPR players look very subdued and I think maybe it is because of the situation with Rio Ferdinand and the sad loss of his wife. I wonder whether they could have called the game off in respect. It is a terribly sad day all round.

"It will be very hard for the QPR players and I am sure their thoughts will be with Rio and his late wife Rebecca. It is such a tragic story we are hearing today and it must be difficult for them. He was their team-mate and friend."

QPR's Charlie Austin looks for his 18th goal, but strikes his effort over the bar from 20 yards.

DISALLOWED GOAL

Raheem Sterling puts the ball in the net from Jordan Henderson's pass - but he is at least a couple of yards offside. Sterling began the move about 40 yards from goal.

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The Tea In Team: In response to Coutinho's goal, plane sent back up in the air, with revised banner: 'Rafa out. Rodgers In'

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PENALTY APPEAL

Big shout from the Liverpool players for a penalty. Adam Lallana plays a sumptuous ball to Raheem Sterling, whose subsequent cross appears to strike Clint Hill's hand in the area.

Referee Martin Atkinson waves away appeals.

QPR are desperately seeking a quick response. Defender Steven Caulker once again find himself in a scoring position but he fires over under pressure from Reds defender Dejan Lovren.

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Matt Simpson: In 20 minutes, Rickie Lambert has offered more than Ballotelli has all season.

Ryan Clarke: One thing Lambert will give Liverpool is heart and it's something we've been missing recently. Happy for him to get a chance.

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John Hartson at Anfield

BBC Radio 5 live

Reuters

"That is a great goal from Liverpool. It was a break on the counter-attack and brilliant work from Lambert his vision to see Coutinho on the back post who controlled it perfectly and scored with an exquisite finish."

GOAL

Getty Images

Slightly against the run of play. Striker Rickie Lambert, who has had a bright start, wins possession then drives into the area and lays the ball square to Philippe Coutinho. The Brazilian picks his spot - high left of the keeper - and finds it with a brilliantly placed strike.

YELLOW CARD

Steven Gerrard picks up an early yellow card for bringing down Leroy Fer. The usual "he'll have to be careful now" thought is going through many a spectator's mind.

Liverpool have come back into this - they've controlled the possession in the last few minutes. Rickie Lambert tests Rob Green with a low drive, which the keeper easily holds on to.

John Hartson at Anfield

BBC Radio 5 live

"There is such a difference in atmosphere here at Anfield compared to the Chelsea match here last year. It has been a good start from QPR."

Liverpool have their first effort on goal - a Steven Gerrard drive from 20 yards that drifts harmlessly wide. They need the recalled skipper to put in a great performance.

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BBC

Plane flies over Anfield before the match with a banner attached to it

Matt, Warwick: Liverpool would be mad not to consider approaching Benitez if he's available. Achieved far more than Rodgers during his time here, with a much more limited budget.

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QPR now have a corner. It comes to nothing, but moments later a low Leroy Fer drive has to be pushed away by Simon Mignolet.

CLOSE-ISH!

The dead ball is delivered to the far post and eventually lands in the path of defender Steven Caulker, whose attempted bicycle kick goes a couple of feet wide of the left-hand post.

QPR have a free-kick on the right after striker Charlie Austin is fouled. Great position for the Hoops.

Ian Dennis at Anfield

BBC Radio 5 live senior football reporter

"Plane has now disappeared."

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Jonny Gilchrist: As a Liverpool fan who goes home and away to most games that banner is just embarrassing. Short sighted. Not the Liverpool way.

Michael Powell: Those flying with the banner aren't supporters, just pathetic attention seekers.

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DISALLOWED GOAL

A corner to QPR. Matty Phillips delivers a scuffed corner from the right and Leroy Fer nudges the ball in at the near post - GOAAAAAL!

NOOOOOO! The ball apparently went out of play before it came back in. Hmm...

KICK-OFF

QPR get us under way.

BBC

The players are out and we are moments from kick off.

Jonathan Pearce

BBC Match of the Day commentator

"Liverpool are limping to the finish line. Expectancy levels were too high in the first place. The transfer of Luis Suarez and injury to Daniel Sturridge proved too damaging.

"Bad signings have been made. Mario Balotelli has been a disaster, but there is a deeper malaise. The team just doesn't seem ruthless enough to stretch that extra inch for glory.

"QPR fans won't agree of course, but even the diehards must know that escape now is but a dream. They could need three more wins from their final four games. Three of those matches are away.

"They've triumphed on their travels just twice this season and only once, ever, at Anfield - 24 years ago."

'RODGERS OUT RAFA IN' BANNER FLOWN

Yes, the plane (as speculated in the 14:41 entry) has flown over Anfield with 'RODGERS OUT RAFA IN' banner attached to it.

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Liverpool pay tribute

QPR

Steven Gerrard hands Joey Barton a bouquet of flowers after the sad passing of Rio Ferdinand's wife, Rebecca

QPR to wear black armbands

Earlier, QPR published a statement from defender Rio Ferdinand on their website:

"My soul mate slipped away last night. Rebecca, my wonderful wife, passed away peacefully after a short battle with cancer at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.

"She was a fantastic loving mother to our three beautiful children. She will be missed as a wife, sister, aunt, daughter and granddaughter. She will live on in our memory, as a guide and inspiration."

Many of Ferdinand's peers, colleagues and former colleagues have posted sympathy messages.

QPR tweeted: QPR players will wear black armbands today in the wake of the sad passing of Rio Ferdinand's wife, Rebecca

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BREAKING BANNER NEWS

There are reports that a plane will be flown over Anfield with a 'Rodgers Out' banner attached to it. Really.

QPR seniors rally troops

Meanwhile, QPR boss Chris Ramsey revealed how his senior players have been trying to boost the confidence of team-mates before the match at Anfield.

Rangers had to make do with a goalless draw against West Ham last weekend which left them four points adrift of safety with four matches remaining.

"They are good characters and have a lot of years behind them so it's just maybe a little chat here and there to the group just to make sure everybody realises there is a task ahead that we are capable of overcoming," Ramsey said.

"I think they are all quite self-motivated at the moment because everybody wants to stay in the division.

TEAM NEWS

Here's the team news:

Liverpool make three changes to the side that lost to Hull. Steven Gerrard returns to captain the side, and replaces Joe Allen. Forward Adam Lallana is in the starting XI for the first time since 22 March. The midfielder comes in to take the place of Jordon Ibe. And Rickie Lambert replaces Mario Balotelli.

QPR make one change as midfielder Leroy Fer replaces striker Bobby Zamora.

Liverpool XI: Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Lovren, Johnson, Gerrard, Henderson, Lallana, Sterling, Coutinho, Lambert.

QPR XI: Green, Onuoha, Dunne, Caulker, Hill, Phillips, Barton, Sandro, Henry, Fer, Austin

'Liverpool confidence dented'

Reuters

It's the time of the season when we take a good, hard look at contrasting fortunes. In the case of this match, Liverpool are fighting for a place in Europe, while QPR are battling for survival.

But... but... there are similarities because both managers will no doubt be disappointed by how their respective teams have performed - Hoops boss Chris Ramsey maybe less so.

The Reds, who finished runners-up last season, are seven points behind bitter rivals Manchester United, who occupy the fourth Champions League place.

"This isn't a team lacking effort or commitment. They will fight right to the end," Rodgers said of his own team.

"We won 10 out of 13 and confidence was high. In couple of big games we fell short and that can dent your confidence."