Two own goals see Liverpool scrape win against unlucky QPR

A crazy finish including three goals in injury time saw a fortunate Liverpool side grab a dramatic 3-2 victory over QPR at Loftus Road in the first Sunday kick-off.

Two own goals, the first from Richard Dunne and the second from his defence partner Steven Caulker in the 95th minute, left QPR rooted to the foot of the Premier League table despite dominating possession for long periods of the match.

The hosts were dominant from the beginning as Dutch national Leroy Fer struck the bar twice in the first hour while Rangers’ strike force of Bobby Zamora and Charlie Austin were a constant thorn to Liverpool’s defence that has managed to keep only one clean sheet in their last 14 premier league outings.

It appeared destined that the game would end goalless as QPR continued to dominate while a disappointing Mario Balotelli lifted a volley over a gaping net after goalkeeper Alex McCarthy only managed to parry a Lallana effort in the path of the Italian striker.

However, an own goal – the first of two in a match – brought the contest into life. Richard Dunne was the unfortunate scorer as he only managed to poke over his own line a quick free kick to gift the Reds an underserved advantage.

Dunne’s unfortunate own goal, and tenth in the Premier League, made him the first player to reach double figures.

That is how things stayed until the final eight minutes that saw four more goals. In the 87th minute, substitute Eduardo Vargas equalized after knocking home from close range a Charlie Austin pass.

Philippe Coutinho restored Liverpool’s lead three minutes leader when he finished off a flowing counter-attack with a low drive that took an unfortunate bobble off a QPR ankle and past the desperate Alex McCarthy.

Then a minute into injury time, Vargas capitalised on some poor defending to grab his and QPR’s second equalizer when he scored from a glancing header which beat Mignolet at his near post.

Liverpool were not to be denied though and as Raheem Sterling raced through, his square pass intended for Balotelli was put through his own net by a misfortunate Steven Caulker.

The win puts Brendan Rodgers’s side up to fifth with13 points from the first eight matches. Harry Redknapp’s Queens Park Rangers, meanwhile, remain at the foot of the table with only four points from their first matches and four points adrift of safety.