QPR vs Everton: Premier League match preview

A look at a clash between two teams who have been out-of-sorts this season

A view of Loftus Road, home of QPR (GETTY IMAGES)

Currently four points adrift of safety with nine games remaining, QPR boss Chris Ramsey will realise that the club need to focus on winning their home games considering how poor they have been on their travels. Having won just one game away from home all season, he will have pinpointed the clash with Everton at Loftus Road as just one of the fixtures where three points is required if The Hoops are to have realistic ambitions of survival.

Everton’s 3-0 victory over Newcastle at Goodison Park last Sunday was a performance that has not been the norm for The Toffees this season. With 23 points less than they had at this stage last term, Everton’s form has been woefully under-par and they’ve been lucky they haven't been sucked into the relegation dogfight.

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PAST THREE MEETINGS...

Everton (Barkley, Mirallas, Naismith) 3-1 QPR (Zamora), Premier League, December 2014

Everton (Barkley, Jelavic 2, Coleman) 4-0 QPR, FA Cup, January 2014

Everton (Gibson, Anichebe) 2-0 QPR, Premier League, April 2013

STATS...

QPR have not beaten Everton at home since a 3-1 win in April 1996.

Charlie Austin has scored seven more league goals (15) than Everton’s top-scorer Romelu Lukaku (8).

Everton are 23 points worse off than they were at this stage last season.

CLASSIC MATCH...

Everton 0-1 QPR - 2011

Newly-promoted QPR may have left Goodison Park with all three points, but it was teenage sensation Ross Barkley who truly captured the imagination on this August afternoon. David Moyes seemed unperturbed by Tommy Smith’s winning goal, instead choosing to lavish praise on his 17 year old debutant claiming that ‘he should be proud of the way he took responsibility on the ball’.

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