Next Sunday, 19th of October 2014, Liverpool will visit Loftus Road to measure forces with QPR for round eight of the English Premier League, on a match that, for very different reasons, is of major importance for both teams.

Liverpool’s season so far has been far from impressive. The Reds’ inconsistency and the lack of the sparkle they showed last term are probably the main causes for such uninspired season start. The departure of the erratic Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez during the Summer has been pointed out by some pundits as one of the main reasons for Liverpool’s quality decrease so far this season, and although we cannot judge a team based entirely a single player, it is fair to say that, despite his awkward biting madness and occasional tantrums, he is fantastic footballer capable of changing the fortunes of any team across the globe.

After an unconvincing performance and respective defeat in Switzerland against FC Basel for the UEFA Champions League, Liverpool returned to wins a few days later when they hosted and overcame West Brom at Anfield Road by 2-1, a match they have somewhat dominated but where they also struggled once again at the finishing department. Balotelli has not been particularly brilliant as of late and former Southampton’s sharpshooter, Rickie Lambert, has not yet found his way to goals, something that has been forcing the team’s attacking midfielders to assume the goal scoring role.

For the predictably complicated trip to Loftus Road, the Reds’ manager, Brendan Rodgers, will still not be able to count on the contribution of Sahko, Flanagan, Suso and Lovren, all of them sidelined due to injury.

As for QPR, the return to the English Premier League has certainly been far from what their supporters expected with the team struggling at the bottom of the table after seven matches, with just four points and already fifteen goals conceded so far.

Harry Redknapp has already changed his tactical approach but not even that was enough for the team to increase their goal tally or to improve their defence solidity.

Last round, QPR didn’t get anything better than a defeat from their visit to The Boleyn Ground and increased their poor streak to four matches without a single win.

Regardless of their less impressive recent moment, Liverpool are favourites for next Sunday’s clash, although, these type of matches sometimes serve as a catalyst for those team in need of points and a win might just offer QPR the motivation they need to leave the bottom of the table.

QPR

Stats: W-1 L-3 D-1

Recent Form - LLDLW

Liverpool

Stats: W-2 L-2 D-1

Recent Form - WLDLW

Possible Line-ups

QPR (4-4-1-1) - Green - Caulker - Ferdinand - Traore - Isla - Sandro - Henry - Hoilett - Mutch - Fer - Austin

Liverpool (4-3-3) – Mignolet - Moreno - Skrtel - Touré - Manquillo - Gerrard - Coutinho - Henderson - Balotelli - Sterling - Lallana

Prediction

QPR 0 Liverpool 1