QPR vs Man Utd - Team News, Match Preview & Likely Line-Ups

Venue: Loftus Road Date: Saturday, 23rd February K/o: 15:00

Team News

Queens Park Rangers have doubts over the fitness of January signing Loic Remy, who has a groin problem and is a doubt to face Manchester United. Junior Hoilett and Samba Diakite have returned to match fitness and are available for selection, but Bobby Zamora may have to settle for an appearance from the bench as he continues his battle with a hip injury while Fabio is ineligible to face his parent club. Manchester United are likely to be without Wayne Rooney, who is struggling with a chronic sinus problem, and Phil Jones and Paul Scholes miss out through injury. Robin van Persie should start having been rested in the FA Cup win over Reading while Javier Hernandez, who scored what proved to be the winning goal in that game, could make an appearance through Rooney's absence.

Match Preview

Harry Redknapp stated recently that a tally of 37 points should be enough to save QPR from the drop but his bottom of the table side are 20 points adrift of that mark with only 13 games of the season left to play. Their chances of adding to that tally against the Premier League leaders this weekend looks to be slim. On paper, this top versus bottom clash looks to be a write off, as Sir Alex Ferguson seeks to continue his 14-game unbeaten run in the league as his side appear to be marching toward another title having taken 38 points from a possible 42 in that period. QPR haven't beaten the Red Devils at home in the top flight in 23 years, when Andy Gray scored twice in a 3-2 win in 1989. They are also without a win in their previous 11 encounters while United have never failed to score at Loftus Road during the Premier League era. However, the R's will take some confidence from their home draw with Premier League Champions Manchester City at the end of January, whilst they have also beaten European Champions Chelsea away this term, meaning this encounter is by no means an automatic 3 pointer for Ferguson and his side.

Likely Line-Ups

QPR Cesar, Hill, Traore, Samba, Onuoha, Taarabt, Jenas, Hoilett, Diakite, Wright-Phillips, Mackie Man Utd de Gea, Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Young, Carrick, Cleverley, Valencia, Hernandez, van Persie Source: BBC

Contributor
Contributor

Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.