Although QPR had secured a draw in a League Cup semi-final at Anfield to progress to Wembley in 1986 it wasn’t until 1991 that they finally registered their first win at the famous old ground.
QPR 0 Liverpool 3, Sunday December 30, 2012, Premier League
Arguably QPR’s worst 45 minutes of the dreadful 2012/13 season came against Liverpool at Loftus Road at the end of December. A win against Fulham prior to Christmas had provided hope but subsequent defeats to Newcastle and West Brom sapped confidence and Luis Suarez was able to run amok in this live Sky fixture with two goals in the first quarter of an hour. When a defensive calamity allowed Daniel Agger to make it three before the half hour a rout looked on the cards and Harry Redknapp sent on Shaun Derry for Djibril Cisse at half time – effectively shutting up shop to protect a three goal deficit.
QPR: Cesar 4, Onuoha 6, Nelsen 5, Hill 3, Traore 3, Wright-Phillips 2 (Da Silva 80, -), Diakite 2 (Granero 63, 3), Mbia 3, Mackie 4, Taarabt 4, Cisse 2 (Derry 46, 6)
Subs not used: Green, Ferdinand, Faurlin, Hoilett
Bookings: Mbia 56 (diving), Da Silva 90 (foul)
Liverpool: Reina 6, Johnson 7, Agger 7, Skrtl 7, Enrique 6 (Suso 71, 6), Allen 7 (Carragher 87, -), Henderson 8 (Lucas 64, 6), Gerrard 8, Downing 7, Sterling 6, Suarez 9
Subs not used: Gulacsi, Coates, Shelvey, Assaidi
Goals: Suarez 10 (assisted Henderson), 16 (assisted Downing), Agger 28 (assisted Gerrard)
Bookings: Leiva 82 (foul)
QPR 3 Liverpool 2, Wednesday March 21, 2012, Premier League
Last season’s home game with Liverpool will go down in history as one of the classic Loftus Road games. Rangers, fresh from a seemingly crushing defeat at relegation rivals Bolton, fell 2-0 behind to Kenny Dalglish’s men thanks to a fabulous scissor kicked volley from defender Sebastien Coates and a scrambled effort from Dirk Kuyt. With only 18 minutes left to play that looked like the end of the matter but Shaun Derry’s flying header from a corner – his first goal for five years – hauled QPR back into the game and when Taye Taiwo swung over a perfect cross five minutes from time Djibril Cisse was on hand to power home a fine header against his former club for the equaliser. Mark Hughes seemed happy with that point, urging his team to stay back and in shape for fear of losing a winning goal, and when the R’s were awarded a late free kick they committed only Bobby Zamora forward for it. Liverpool cleared but when Paddy Kenny returned the ball to their half Jose Enrique could only find Luke Young with a clearing header, and then he slipped trying to deal with the second ball which allowed Jamie Mackie to run through on goal and lift the roof off Loftus Road with a low finish into the net.
QPR: Kenny 7, Young 6, Onuoha 6, Ferdinand 6, Traore 7 (Taiwo 46, 7), Barton 3 (Mackie 62, 7), Derry 5, Diakite 7, Taarabt 6, Zamora 7, Cisse 7 (Buzsaky 88, -)
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Gabbidon, Bothroyd, Wright-Phillips
Goals: Derry 77 (assisted Taarabt), Cisse 86 (assisted Taiwo), Mackie 90 (assisted Young)
Liverpool: Reina 5, Kelly 6 (Coates 34, 6), Carragher 5, Skrtel 6, Jose Enrique 4, Kuyt 7, Spearing 7, Adam 6 (Henderson 46, 6), Downing 7, Gerrard 7, Suarez 7 (Carroll 82, 5)
Subs Not Used: Doni, Aurelio, Shelvey, Flanagan
Goals: Coates 54 (unassisted), Kuyt 72 (assisted Downing)
Liverpool 1 QPR 0, Saturday December 10, 2011, Premier League
Radek Cerny turned in an inspired display in the QPR goal at Anfield earlier that season, but couldn’t prevent the R’s slipping to a 1-0 defeat. Veteran Czech keeper Cerny, deputising for the injured Paddy Kenny, was in magnificent form throughout but was unfortunately beaten on one occasion by Luis Suarez and that was good enough for Kenny Dalglish’s side to take maximum points. Suarez stole a march on Luke Young immediately after half time and headed home from close range at the Kop End to seal a 1-0 win. Unfortunately QPR only really came into a dour game as an attacking force in the final five minutes when more ambition and urgency earlier in the game may have brought greater reward.
Liverpool: Reina 6, Johnson 7, Skrtel 7, Agger 7, Enrique 7, Maxi 7 (Bellamy 78, 6), Adam 7, Henderson 6, Downing 8 (Shelvey 86, -), Suarez 9, Kuyt 7
Subs Not Used: Doni, Carroll, Coates, Carragher, Kelly
Booked: Agger (foul), Bellamy (dissent)
Goals: Suarez 47 (assisted Adam)
QPR: Cerny 9, Young 6, Gabbidon 7, Ferdinand 7 (Orr 50, 6), Traore 7, Mackie 6 (Hill 78, 6), Barton 6, Faurlin 7, Wright-Phillips 6, Smith 5 (Campbell 66, 6), Bothroyd 6
Subs Not Used: Putnins, Derry, Buzsaky, Connolly
QPR 1 Liverpool 2, Sunday February 11, 1996, Premier League
Liverpool are one of those top flight mainstays that we’ve avoided in cup competitions since our 1996 relegation season and so Wednesday will be the first meeting between the clubs at Loftus Road since 1996. The R’s were staring the First Division square in the face when Roy Evans brought his side to W12 back then, Ray Wilkins’ men had lost six league games on the spin since Christmas and went into the Super Sunday clash extremely low on confidence. The game played out much as you would expect, with Liverpool cruising into a two goal lead in the first half before Danny Dichio gave the R’s false hope in the second. Although QPR did win the next match, 3-1 away at Sheff Wed, and rallied late in the season it wasn’t enough to save them from demotion.
QPR: J Sommer, D Bardsley, R Brevett, D Maddix, S Yates, S Barker, I Holloway, N Quashie, D Dichio, K Gallen, T Sinclair
Subs not used: G Goodridge, B Allen, T Challis
Goals: Dichio
Liverpool: D James, R Jones, P Babb, M Wright, J Scales, J McAteer, M Thomas, S McManaman, J Barnes, R Fowler (J Redknapp, 76), S Collymore
Subs not used: T Warner, I Rush
Goals: Wright, Fowler
2012/13 QPR 0 Liverpool 3
2011/12 QPR 3 Liverpool 2 (Derry, Cisse, Mackie)
2011/12 Liverpool 1 QPR 0
1995/96 QPR 1 Liverpool 2 (Dichio)
1995/96 Liverpool 1 QPR 0
1994/95 Liverpool 1 QPR 1 (Gallen)
1994/95 QPR 2 Liverpool 1 (Ferdinand, Sinclair)
1993/94 Liverpool 3 QPR 2 (Ferdinand, Barker)
1993/94 QPR 1 Liverpool 3 (Wilkins)
1992/93 Liverpool 1 QPR 0
1992/93 QPR 0 Liverpool 1
1991/92 QPR 0 Liverpool 0
1991/92 Liverpool 1 QPR 0
1990/91 Liverpool 1 QPR 3 (Ferdinand, Wegerle, Wilson)
1990/91 QPR 1 Liverpool 1 (Falco)
1989/90 Liverpool 2 QPR 1 (Wegerle)
1989/90 Liverpool 1 QPR 0*
1989/90 QPR 2 Liverpool 2* (Wilkins, Barker)
1989/90 QPR 3 Liverpool 2 (Wright 2, Falco)
1988/89 Liverpool 2 QPR 0
1988/89 QPR 0 Liverpool 1
1987/88 QPR 0 Liverpool 1
1987/88 Liverpool 4 QPR 0
1986/87 Liverpool 2 QPR 1 (Fillery)
1986/87 QPR 1 Liverpool 3 (Bannister)
1985/86 Liverpool 4 QPR 1 (Rosenior)
1985/86 Liverpool 2 QPR 2** (Whelen og, Gillespie og)
1985/86 QPR 1 Liverpool 0** (Fenwick)
1985/86 QPR 2 Liverpool 1 (Fenwick, Bannister)
1984/85 QPR 0 Liverpool 2
1984/85 Liverpool 1 QPR 1 (Fereday)
1983/84 Liverpool 2 QPR 0
1983/84 QPR 0 Liverpool 1
1978/79 QPR 1 Liverpool 3 (Eastoe)
1978/79 Liverpool 2 QPR 1 (McGee)
1977/78 Liverpool 1 QPR 0
1977/78 QPR 2 Liverpool 0 (Bowles, James)
1976/77 QPR 1 Liverpool 1 (Givens)
1976/77 Liverpool 3 QPR 1 (Eastoe)
1975/76 Liverpool 2 QPR 0
1975/76 QPR 2 Liverpool 0 (G Francis, Leach)
1974/75 Liverpool 3 QPR 1 (G Francis)
1974/75 QPR 0 Liverpool 1
1973/74 Liverpool 2 QPR 1 (Thomas)
1973/74 QPR 2 Liverpool 2 (Bowles, McLintock)
1968/69 QPR 1 Liverpool 2 (Bridges)
1968/69 Liverpool 2 QPR 0
1913/14 Liverpool 2 QPR 1* (Mitchell)
* - FA Cup
** - League Cup
The head to head record between these clubs speaks for itself – QPR have eight wins to Liverpool’s 32. That was largely due to a period through the 1980s when Liverpool dominated English football, and QPR struggled to even register a goal against them when the two sides met. There had been notable success in 1986 when Rangers reached the League Cup final by beating the Reds over two legs in the semi final, a 2-2 draw at Anfield sealed by two own goals from Gary Gillespie and Ronnie Whelen saw the R’s to Wembley, but a first win on this ground remained elusive until 1991.
Liverpool, typically, were battling for the title against Arsenal and had gone top the week before with a 7-1 win against hapless Derby County. Rangers were therefore heavy underdogs despite the continued astute management of Don Howe, but they gave an indication of what was to come when a young Les Ferdinand collected possession after a tangle of legs between Gillespie, Sinton and Barker and fired a powerful drive which Mike Hooper the Liverpool goalkeeper had to tip over the bar. At the other end Ian Rush headed wide from close range after Peter Beardsley had reached the byline and cut a cross back into the six yard box.
As the first half progressed Andy Sinton fired over after being put clean through in the area by a glorious back flick from Ray Wilkins but the R’s had to muscle up in defence to clear a goalmouth scramble after Czech World Cup goalkeeper Jan Stejskal had made an excellent save to keep out Rush’s volley.
There was much talk in the press after the match about how poor Liverpool had been, and indeed when Les Ferdinand struck the outside of the post from an acute angle the move had begun when Glenn Hussein gave the ball away in his own half. But QPR were excellent on the day, directed around the park by Ray Wilkins and lead from the front by Ferdinand who was just starting to hint at what a super player he was going to become after a slow start to life at Loftus Road. With the ball still in play after Ferdinand’s first effort Simon Barker crossed deep into the area and the powerful striker got in front of his man to head home the opening goal in front of the travelling Rangers fans.
That lead was doubled on the stroke of half time with a goal entirely of Liverpool’s making. Steve Staunton played a lazy back pass to David Burrows on the edge of the area, he let it run under his foot to Hooper but Wegerle had read the situation in advance and rounded the goalkeeper before finishing high into the net from the corner of the six yard box.
Liverpool, especially at Anfield, were renowned for receiving favourable refereeing decisions in the same way that Manchester United are these days. Rangers have certainly been on the receiving end of some dodgy calls in matches against both teams, few quite as bad as the penalty kick awarded in this game which got Pool back into the match after half time. Rufus Brevett was clearly pushed in the back as he got to a bouncing ball first in the area but as he crashed to earth the referee claimed that he’d handled the ball and awarded a spot kick to the hosts which Jan Molby tapped home.
Liverpool sent on Ronny Rosenthal to hunt for an equaliser but Rangers scored a third at the Kop End when Ferdinand’s deep cross was miscontrolled at the back stick by Steve Nicol and Don Howe’s own substitute Clive Wilson nipped in, poked home and sealed a memorable three points. QPR’s first ever win at Anfield, Liverpool’s first home defeat of the season.
Liverpool: M.Hooper, G.Hysen, D.Burrows, S.Nicol, J.Molby, G.Ablett, P.Beardsley, R.Houghton, I.Rush, S.Staunton (R.Rosenthal), G.Gillespie
QPR: J.Stejskal, D.Bardsley, R.Brevett, A.Tillson, D.Peacock, D.Maddix, R.Wilkins, S.Barker, L.Ferdinand, R.Wegerle (B.Allen), A.Sinton (C.Wilson)
Highlights >>> QPR 0 Liverpool 1 1992 >>> Liverpool 1 QPR 3 1991 >>> QPR 2 Liverpool 2 FA Cup 1990 >>> Liverpool 4 QPR 0 1987 >>> League Cup semi final 1986 >>> QPR 1 Liverpool 1 1977 >>> Liverpool 3 QPR 1 1976 >>> QPR 2 Liverpool 0 1975
The diminutive figure of Sammy Lee became part of the Liverpool furniture during the late 1970s and 1980s – given the club’s dominance of the English game in that period it’s no surprise to find his personal trophy cabinet bulging with medals. Lee won the league title three times, the League Cup four times, and the European Cup twice during an 11 year stint at Anfield. He was also capped 14 times by England.
Lee was a graduate of the famed Anfield youth academy during the days of Bob Paisley’s management, and he scored on his debut against Leicester in 1975 after coming on as a sixth minute substitute for the injured David Johnson. In 1980/81 he played in the semi and final of the European Cup as Liverpool beat first Bayern Munich and then Real Madrid to lift the trophy. Lee played every game en route to the 1984 final as well, and scored a crucial goal in the second leg of the semi final against Dinamo Bucharest at Anfield.
When injuries restricted Lee’s impact on Merseyside QPR manager Jim Smith splashed out £175,000 to bring him to West London where he made 33 starts and two sub appearances, scoring once in a 5-2 FA Cup win against Leicester City, in the 1986/87 First Division season. The following summer QPR made a profit on the 28 year old by selling him to Osasuna for £200,000 where he joined another former QPR and Liverpool stalwart Michael Robinson.
He returned to these shores in the early 1990s for brief spells with Southampton, and Bolton where he was made manager in 2007 after Sam Allardyce’s departure for Newcastle. Lee had coached at the Reebok Stadium for two years but nevertheless promised a complete departure from Big Sam’s renowned direct style of play – he won just one of his 11 matches and was sacked in October that same year. A brief return to Liverpool followed before he was brought back to Bolton to lead the coaching of their academy sides.
Others >>> Raheem Sterling, QPR YT, Liverpool 2010-present >>> Peter Crouch, QPR 2000-2001, Liverpool 2005-2008 >>> Paul Jones, Liverpool (loan) 2004, QPR 2006-2007, Neil Ruddock, Liverpool 1993-1998, QPR (loan) 1998 >>> Mark Kennedy, Liverpool 1995-1998, QPR (loan) 1998 >>> Jim Magilton, Liverpool 1988-1990, QPR (manager) 2009 >>> Paul Walsh, Liverpool 1984-1988, QPR (loan) 1991 >>> Nigel Spackman, Liverpool 1987-1989, QPR 1989 >>> Jimmy Carter, QPR 1985-1987, Liverpool 1991 >>> Michael Robinson, Liverpool 1983-1984, QPR 1984-1986 >>> Bobby Campbell, Liverpool 1958-1961, QPR (coach) 1986-1988
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