Half-time: QPR 0 Liverpool 0

Leroy Fer hit the bar twice as much-improved QPR dominated the first half at Loftus Road.

With his team bottom of the table and his position under scrutiny, Rangers manager Harry Redknapp made major changes.

He switched to a 4-4-2 formation with Fer playing from the left, while Richard Dunne replaced Rio Ferdinand, Mauricio Isla was deployed on the right flank, Yun Suk-Young was given a Premier League debut and Bobby Zamora started up front alongside Charlie Austin.

There was also a debut for summer signing Alex McCarthy, with the goalkeeper coming in for Rob Green, who has tonsillitis.

Redknapp called for more energy from his side and they responded early on, pressing Liverpool with an intensity that was sorely lacking in previous matches this season.

They came close to scoring when Austin bundled his way past two challenges and was denied by keeper Simon Mignolet before shooting into the side netting from an awkward angle as he tried to bury the resulting loose ball.

And an unmarked Fer missed a glorious chance when he fired against the top of the bar from 10 yards out after Zamora had pulled the ball back from the right.

Fer almost atoned when found by Zamora’s right-wing cross but after the Dutchman’s header bounced off the woodwork, Austin could not force the ball past Glen Johnson on the line and Martin Skrtel was eventually able to clear.

Steven Gerrard went close for Liverpool a minute before the break when he shot narrowly wide.

QPR (4-4-2): McCarthy; Onuoha, Dunne, Caulker, Yun; Isla, Henry; Sandro, Fer; Austin, Zamora.
Subs: Murphy, Traore, Ferdinand, Phillips, Kranjcar, Hoilett, Vargas.

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