Post by gerrard on Dec 6, 2011 17:28:01 GMT
Liverpool 1-0 QPR 
Barclays Premier League
10th Dec 2011
KO 15:00 Ground: Anfield
Luis Suarez clinched the points as Liverpool returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over QPR.
The striker headed his eighth goal of the campaign during a game which the home side dominated.
The A-team theme blared before kick-off and the plan eventually came together for Kenny Dalglish and co despite a wasteful first half.
For his part, skipper Pepe Reina was a virtual spectator.
Dalglish switched Jordan Henderson to a central position in the absence of the suspended Jay Spearing and injured Lucas Leiva.
The Reds applied the early pressure, winning three corners inside the first three minutes.
The first opening arrived on 10 minutes, Stewart Downing crossing from the right towards an unmarked Suarez. The Uruguayan's limp header did not trouble the goalkeeper.
Shortly after that Suarez and Dirk Kuyt exchanged possession in the box before the former daggered a shot within inches from a ludicrous angle.
Soon it would be a hat-trick of chances gone when Maxi rolled the ball into Suarez's path and watched his fellow South American skew against the Anfield Road hoardings.
Some of Liverpool's football was scrumptious, but the scoreline remained blank.
The story did not alter when Suarez wriggled one way and another to find space in the danger zone before his teasing cross through the six-yard box was allowed to roll to safety.
Next up Maxi, who, having been played clear by Kuyt, had only Cerny to beat. The Argentine aimed for the bottom corner but the goalkeeper dived low to bat away his effort.
It was 41 minutes before the visitors troubled Liverpool's goal - and even then Shaun Wright-Phillips's speculative kick ballooned into the Kop.
Straight away Liverpool probed once more at the other end, Downing manipulating himself into space and playing Suarez into a goalscoring position. The No.7 went to dink the advancing Cerny but the Czech stopper was smart to it.
Downing powered the last chance of the half into the goalkeeper's arms and Liverpool exited for the dressing room knowing they would have to be more lethal in front of goal if they were to avoid completing a hat-trick of home draws against promoted teams.
Their response was almost immediate after the restart.
Two minutes is all it took for Charlie Adam to centre towards Suarez, who was again left unoccupied by the QPR backline. On this occasion he made no mistake with a decisive header at the Kop end.
Kuyt dragged wide and had a bouncing volley smothered, Maxi was thwarted by an awesome reflex save. Surely the second was on its way.
Anfield delighted as Suarez and Maxi played a one-two-three-four and the latter was away, but his shot could not navigate Cerny.
QPR offered almost nothing - the almost because Jay Bothroyd did muster a stab wide from a free-kick as the game entered its final quarter.
Wright-Phillips deflected a Bellamy cross onto the bar with seconds to go but in the end one was enough for Dalglish's men, who now head into the Christmas fixtures with the top four in their sights.
*report lfc.tv
