Do Liverpool have anything left to play for? The Reds are currently seven points adrift of Man United with four games, including today, remaining.

Brendan Rodgers’ side know they cannot afford another slip-up but QPR arrive at Anfield with their Premier League status handing by a thread. Kick-off is at 3pm.

The team news from Anfield is in and the big news is that Steven Gerrard returns to Liverpool’s midfield while there is no place for Mario Balotelli in the squad after another ineffective performance in the week.

Chris Ramsey, meanwhile, makes one change to his QPR side from the draw with West Ham last time out. Leroy Fer replaces Bobby Zamora with Richard Dunne starting for the second straight week.

The QPR players will wear black armbands this afternoon in tribute to Rio Ferdinand’s late wife who tragically passed away last night after a short illness.

What do you make of today’s teams? Rickie Lambert has been handed a rare start by Brendan Rodgers as the Liverpool boss makes three changes from Wednesday’s loss at Hull.

Balotelli misses out through injury, or so we’re led to believe, while Adam Lallana is preferred to Jordan Ibe in midfield.

Liverpool subs: Ward, Toure, Moreno, Leiva, Markovic, Allen, Ibe.

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

Pictures of a plane with the banner ‘Rodgers Out’ have been circulating on social media this morning as the Liverpool manager comes under increased scrutiny as their underwhelming campaign draws to a close.

Does Rodgers deserve such criticism or are fans being too harsh on the man who came agonisingly close to delivering the league title to Anfield just twelve months ago?

Get involved in the comments section below.

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There was an exciting finale to the Championship season earlier as Ireland’s Harry Arter helped Bournemouth to the title while Ipswich secured a place in the Play-offs despite losing at Blackburn. Daryl Murphy scored twice for Mick McCarthy’s side.

The teams are on their way out of the Anfield dressing rooms with just a few minutes until kick-off.

And the rumours were true as a plan flies overhead with this message…

The visitors get us underway as they play from left to right in this first-half, attacking the Kop end.

DISALLOWED GOAL! Straight from the kick-off, QPR win a corner down the right as Matt Phillips embarks on a run. The ball eventually ends up in the Liverpool goal via Leroy Fer but the referee’s assistant adjudged the corner to have gone out.

Extremely tentative and slow start from Liverpool and they’re perhaps fortunate not to be behind here. It was a very tight call for Mike Mullarkey and having watched the replay a couple of times, it’s difficult to decided whether the ball was fully over the end line or not.

The hosts are all over the place at the back. Another cross is sent in from the right but the Reds are unable to deal with it and the ball eventually falls to Steven Caulker but the defender is unable to keep his effort on target as it drifts wide.

QPR are really up for this. They’re sending the ball into the Liverpool box at every opportunity and Dejan Lovren does well to head the latest cross behind for another corner.

Liverpool clear the initial danger but Fer picks the loose ball up on the edge of the area and after shifting the ball a yard to his right, forces Mignolet into a smart stop.

Here’s more on that plane which flew overhead just before kick-off.

PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Liverpool have hardly had the ball during the opening exchanges but Adam Lallana injects some life into the hosts with an industrious run and cross down the left but Dunne is in the right place to clear with Henderson ready to pounce.

QPR’s bright start was very nearly undone as Joey Barton is caught in possession in his own half to leave his defence exposed but Lambert’s shot was straight at Rob Green.

Liverpool are just starting to click into gear. Henderson is beginning to get his foot on the ball and a perfectly weighted ball for Sterling allows the winger to run at Onuoha but the defender stands his ground.

The visitors break and Fer is tripped by Gerrard, a foul which earns the Liverpool skipper a yellow card. From the resulting free-kick, Fer’s centre is over hit and Dunne can’t pull it back across goal.

GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 QPR (Coutinho)

After a slow start, Liverpool have hit the front through Coutinho. Out of nowhere, the Reds have acres of space down the right and Lambert picks out the Brazilian at the back post before Coutinho steadies himself and curls it past Green.

That was a lovely finish from Coutinho for his fifth Premier League goal of the campaign. Credit must go to Lambert as well for his part down the right.

Liverpool are turning the screw now as Dunne is caught in possession and Lallana unleashes from range but his effort sails over the bar.

The complexion of this game has changed in the last 15 minutes as QPR have lost their initial composure and stranglehold of proceedings. Glen Johnson skips inside two defenders and when the ball eventually falls at the feet of Gerrard on the edge of the area, the midfielder’s shot is well wide.

Liverpool appeal for a penalty as Sterling’s cross appears to strike Clint Hill on the arm. Referee Martin Atkinson isn’t interested but replays suggest the QPR defender may have been fortunate to get away with it.

In the build-up, Lallana played an exquisite ball out right to Sterling. The England international’s return has given Liverpool plenty of energy and industry in midfield so far.

Here’s a closer look at the game’s opening goal including Rodgers’ trademark celebration.

Liverpool have the ball in the net again but the whistle had already gone. It was all very tight just outside the QPR box but Henderson’s flick played Sterling in but he was coming back from an offside position.

At the other end, Charlie Austin has his first sight of goal. The striker receives the ball with his back to goal and was unable to wrap his foot around it to trouble Mignolet.

Despite the home sides’ dominance, Anfield remains very quiet this afternoon. The Kop are very nearly on their feet though as Gerrard’s free is tipped to safety by an outstretched Rob Green.

It’s been a disappointing half for Rangers who started brightly. For their part, Liverpool have responded positively and look dangerous every time they spring forward with Lallana and Coutinho pulling the strings.

With five minutes before the break, Sandro goes into the ball for a typically needless challenge. Lambert and Hill then exchange words after Lallana took exception to the challenge.

The game drifting towards half-time now as we enter injury-time.

And that’s half-time as Martin Atkinson brings proceedings to a halt. Philippe Coutinho’s third goal in as many outings against QPR separates the sides and while the hosts have been the better side for much of the contest, Chris Ramsey’s side are still very much in it.

Here’s a check on the half-time scores in this afternoon’s other Premier League games:

• Leicester 3-0 Newcastle (FT)
• Aston Villa 2-0 Everton
• Sunderland 1-1 Southampton
• Swansea 0-0 Stoke
• West Ham 1-0 Burnley
• Man United v West Brom (5.30pm)

Both sides re-emerge and QPR have made one change with Yoon Suk-Young replacing Steven Caulker. We’re told the former Cardiff defender suffered a broken hand during the first-half. Liverpool are unchanged.

Green does well to clear the danger after Richard Dunne fires a back pass at him. Lovren relieves the pressure, however, with a wild effort from range.

Lallana should make it two. Coutinho is the provider this time, slipping the English international in on the angle but Lallana lashes at it on his weaker left foot and skews it horribly wide. QPR are living dangerously.

Liverpool are overloading the engine room and have too much firepower for QPR to handle. Henderson and Coutinho are finding pockets of space at will as they pick holes in this extremely vulnerable rearguard. They haven’t been able to really cash-in just yet, however.

WHAT A MISS! Henderson’s cross carves open the QPR defence and after it just eludes the inrushing Lallana, Raheem Sterling somehow manages to fire over with the goal at his mercy.

No real tempo to the game now as Liverpool continue to have most of the possession. QPR have shown little ambition since the first ten minutes but will need to throw caution to the wind shortly if they are to harbour any hopes of getting something from this game.

QPR are just hanging on a bit here as we enter the final half an hour. They seem content to absorb the pressure for the moment with three centre backs but Liverpool will pick them off sooner rather than later at this rate.

It’s very scrappy but that, in truth, suits Chris Ramsey’s side. Charlie Austin just provides a reminder of the threat he poses but Can is across to mop up.

QPR very nearly shoot themselves in the foot again as they dally in possession as Lambert somewhat fortuitously beats two defenders but his low effort was tame.

First change for Liverpool as Jordan Ibe is introduced for Adam Lallana. The former Southampton man was impressive this afternoon but spurned a glorious opportunity to double the hosts’ advantage.

On what is his penultimate appearance at Anfield, Gerrard goes close after Lambert fluffed his lines from Sterling’s low centre. The striker was unable to sort his feet out as the ball came across but Gerrard picked up the loose ball and looked to curl it past Green but it went the wrong side of the post. It took a slight deflection on its way through.

From the resulting corner, Green makes a good stop to deny Lovren. Will Liverpool be made to pay for this missed chances?

QPR are applying the pressure now with consecutive corners as Bobby Zamora is introduced with Karl Henry sacrificed.

GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 QPR (Fer)

And there it is! The visitors put Liverpool under a period of sustained pressure and it pays dividends with Fer volleying home Barton’s corner. The striker was given acres of space in the box and he made no mistake. Game on.

QPR turning the screw now as Chris Ramsey’s side scent blood. Sterling gives away a free-kick in a dangerous position but Barton’s delivery is cleared. Liverpool are all over the place at the back again while Dunne picks up a yellow card for a late challenge on Sterling.

Much better from QPR all of a sudden as that goal has given them renewed confidence but they still look shaky at the back with just 13 minutes remaining in this contest.

PENALTY! All of QPR’s work undone as Onuoha needlessly hauls Skrtel down in the box. Martin Atkinson had little hesitation in pointing to the spot.

MISSED! Green guesses right and pushes Gerrard’s spot kick around the post as Anfield is stunned.

RED CARD! What a nightmare few minutes for Onuaho as he receives his second yellow for a late and rash tackle on Ibe near the touchline. Absolutely mindless defending and two moments of madness may just cost his side dearly.

Final throw of the dice for Rodgers as Johnson makes way for Lazar Markovic. A little over five minutes plus injury time remaining.

GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 QPR (Gerrard)

Liverpool have won it! Gerrard makes amends at the Kop end as he squeezes in ahead of Barton and Zamora to head home from Sterling’s corner. The skipper is then withdrawn and receives a standing ovation from all four corners of Anfield.

FULL TIME! Gerrard is the match winner as Liverpool move within four points of Man United. You can follow Louis van Gaal’s side in action when they face West Brom this evening on The42.ie.