Liverpool's players rating Vs QPR

Over the past 12 months, Liverpool have gained a reputation as the Premier League's great entertainers, but even by their heart-stopping standards the finish to this game was quite remarkable. With three minutes to go the Reds led 1-0 courtesy of a Richard Dunne own goal and looked to be on their way to a largely undeserved victory against a spirited Queens Park Rangers side. What happened after that showed the best and worst of Brendan Rodgers' side and demonstrated why they're usually such great value for the TV companies.

A goal conceded from a set piece was followed by a well-crafted goal on the counter-attack. From the kickoff Liverpool were on the back foot again, forced to concede a corner which -- of course -- they conceded from. With chances coming at either end as both sides looked for a winner, it was the Merseysiders who eventually emerged victorious thanks to another own goal. This time it was the unfortunate Steven Caulker who diverted the ball into his own net following another incisive Liverpool fast break led by Raheem Sterling, who looked fresh and lively after a difficult week.

Somehow Liverpool have crept up to fifth place in the Premier League and only goal difference separates them from a top-four spot. That's the only positive that Kopites can take from what has been a largely poor start to the season. Despite the result, this may have been their worst display yet and unless they buck their ideas up quickly and learn to defend set pieces much better than this they won't be so high in the table for long.

Player ratings (1-10; 10=best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating):

(GK) Simon Mignolet, 7 -- The Belgian made some excellent saves to keep his side in the game but it was far from a blemish-free outing from him. He was beaten to a cross by Bobby Zamora in the first half and was fortunate to see the ball come back off the crossbar and some may feel he could have done better with QPR's second goal. Despite these lapses he was still one of Liverpool's best players, which says it all.

(DF) Glen Johnson, 6 -- Used the ball reasonably well and offered an outlet on the right-hand side. Defensively he was more secure than most of his teammates and showed good awareness to link up with Raheem Sterling for the quick free kick that created the opening goal.


(DF) Martin Skrtel, 4 -- The big Slovakian has had problems in the past with Bobby Zamora so this was nothing new. Some of his headed clearances didn't have the right accuracy or distance and he never really looked comfortable throughout under the aerial bombardment.

(DF) Dejan Lovren, 4 -- Much the same as Skrtel, when QPR's somewhat limited front two are causing as many problems as they did the finger has to be pointed at the centre-backs, neither of whom were as dominant as Liverpool need them to be.

(DF) Jose Enrique, 5 -- Failed to make the most of a rare starting opportunity and was found wanting for Eduardo Vargas' first goal when he failed to track the run of the Chilean. Offered very little going forward either.

(MF) Emre Can, 5 -- Not the best of games from the young German who initially started in front of the defence before being moved further forward after the break. Having only just returned from injury and making his first Premier League start, allowances need to be made for Can and hopefully he'll begin to show more of what he can do over the coming weeks.

(MF) Jordan Henderson, 6 -- Typically energetic display from the vice-captain who used the ball well and tried to lead counter-attacks whenever possible. Unfortunately many of those breaks came to a shuddering halt when the ball reached Mario Balotelli, and it was noticeable on a couple of occasions that Henderson was becoming increasingly frustrated with the striker.

(MF) Adam Lallana, 5 -- The England man was neat and tidy on the left of a midfield diamond but was rarely able to get on the ball in areas where he could cause problems for the Rangers' back four. The one time he did saw him bring a save out of Alex McCarthy only for Balotelli to blast the rebound high over an empty net.

(MF) Steven Gerrard, 5 -- The captain was invisible for long periods in the first half until he suddenly sprang into life just before halftime when he ran onto a nice flick from Mario Balotelli (just about the one thing the Italian did right all game) and shot inches wide. Started the game in a more advanced role than usual but it wasn't until he was moved back in his "controlling" role in front of the back four that he was able to exert any influence over the game with his trademark passing.

 Raheem Sterling was Liverpool's lone bright spot, being involved in all three of the Reds' goals.
(FW) Raheem Sterling, 7 -- Until the arrival of Coutinho, the teenager was the one bright spark for Liverpool throughout. Employed in a central attacking role alongside Balotelli, he looked to be the one Liverpool player capable of producing a moment of magic and so it proved as he had a hand in all three goals. Considering what a tough week he's had this display says a lot about the youngster's strength of character.

(FW) Mario Balotelli, 2 -- A controversial grade perhaps, as there will be plenty who think it should have been even lower. This was just about as bad it gets from a centre-forward; nothing went right for the Italian and it's quite astonishing that he managed to complete the entire game without being hooked by Rodgers. His teammates' patience was tested to the limit in the first half as he repeatedly made the wrong decision and slowed up counter-attacks. The second half was even worse as he was guilty of missing an absolute sitter when he blazed over an empty net from six yards out.

Substitutes:

(MF) Joe Allen, 5 -- Brought on to try and restore some control to the midfield and was quietly efficient without really being involved a great deal.

(MF) Philippe Coutinho, 7 -- Liverpool improved significantly following the introduction of the Brazilian, who looked to have some of his old sparkle back in a lively cameo after coming on for Lallana. His goal had an element of fortune about it as it took a significant deflection that helped it beat McCarthy, but the pass to Sterling that resulted in the winning goal was a thing of beauty.