Liverpool vs QPR team news: Steven Gerrard returns to starting line-up with Mario Balotelli injured as Rangers make one change

QPR have been rocked this morning with the news of Rio Ferdinand's wife's death

Steven Gerrard applauds the Liverpool fans at Wembley (Getty Images)

Rickie Lambert has been given a rare start for Liverpool as Brendan Rodgers makes three changes to the side that lost against Hull for the Premier League match against Queens Park Rangers.

Lambert is given just his sixth start in the league since his £4m move from Southampton last summer, and he replaces Mario Balotelli who misses out with a foot injury. Steven Gerrard returns to the starting line-up in place of Joe Allen, while Jordan Ibe drops to the bench with Adam Lallana preferred.

QPR will play the game with black armbands on, following the tragic news that defender Rio Ferdinand’s wife, Rebecca Ellison, has died following a short-term cancer illness.

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Ferdinand plays no part in the team having been absent since the start of March, but a number of his teammates have taken to Twitter to express their sorrow at the news and send messages of support to the former England captain.

Balotelli misses out through injury (Getty Images)

QPR manager Chris Ramsey makes just one change to the side that drew 0-0 with West Ham as Leroy Fer comes back in, with Bobby Zamora dropping to the bench.

Line-ups:

Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Lovren, Skrtel, Can, Henderson, Gerrard, Coutinho, Lallana, Sterling, Lambert.

Subs: Ward, Toure, Moreno, Leiva, Markovic, Allen, Ibe.

QPR: Green, Onuoha, Caulker, Dunne, Hill, Phillips, Sandro, Barton, Henry, Fer, Austin.

Subs: McCarthy, Wright-Phillips, Yun, Kranjcar, Hoilett, Zamora, Grego-Cox.