A late Steven Gerrard winner made up for an earlier penalty miss and sent QPR perilously close to relegation as Liverpool won 2-1 at Anfield on Saturday.
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It’s a welcome result for the Reds, their first in four matches after a torrid run of form, amid pre-match furore over a plane flying a banner over Anfield.
A group calling themselves ‘RodgersOutClub’ had hired a plan to fly over the Liverpool ground before kick off trailing a banner that said “Rodgers out, Rafa in”.
The ill-feeling before the game was almost replicated on the field in the first minute, QPR had the ball in the back of the net but the official on the corner said it had gone out of play before reaching the near post.
However, Liverpool buckled down after this early scare and were put ahead after Rickie Lambert found Philippe Coutinho alone on the edge of the box who switched the box onto his right footed curled a lovely shot into the top corner. Green had no chance.
A hit and miss first half followed, Liverpool could have extended their lead if Martin Atkinson had given a penalty when a Sterling cross hit Clint Hill’s arm and Green was forced into a good save five minutes before the break from a Gerrard free-kick.
The second half wasn’t particularly memorable until Leroy Fer equalised with an excellent volley from a Joey Barton corner, and the Hoops looked like the might rescued an unlikely point in their bid for Premier League survival.
Steven Gerrard then had a chance to retake the lead for the Reds at the Kop end after Sedum Onuoha pulled Dejan Lovren back in the box, but the Liverpool skipper squander the chance, Green guessed right and kept QPR in it.
But just two minutes later and Onuoha was sent off for a second bookable offence for a cynical tackle on Jordon Ibe as Liverpool piled on the pressure and looked to break upfield.
Steven Gerrard then sealed the points and headed home the winner to further pile the pressure on Chris Ramsey and QPR who are seven points from safety with just three games left.
Liverpool stay fifth in the table with the win, four points off Manchester United who play later on today.
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