Queens Park Rangers gifted liverpool a 3-2 win in the Premier league on Sunday after defenders Steven Caulker and Richard Dunne scored own goals at loftus Road.
In an explosive finish, with four goals in eight minutes, substitute Eduardo Vargas looked to have secured a point for QPR after he scored in the first minute of second-half stoppage time to make it 2-2. Undeterred, liverpool launched a late counterattack which ended with Caulker putting into his own net to seal the victory for Brendan Rodgers’ team.
liverpool substitute Philippe Coutinho had put liverpool 2-1 up in the 90th minute before Vargas equalized. Earlier, after Mario Balotelli blazed over the bar in the 62nd, Dunne scored the opener five minutes later at the wrong end for his 10th career own goal. Vargas then equalized in the 87th for the first of his two goals.
This was QPR’s third straight defeat in the Premier league. QPR started best and Charlie Austin had the game’s first meaningful opportunity. After forcing his way into the penalty area, his first shot was saved by goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and from the rebound he could only find the side netting.
QPR continued to press forward and midfielder leroy Fer was twice denied by the crossbar in the space of five minutes. His first effort cannoned off the top of the bar in the 27th and, after his second attempt, Austin’s follow up was cleared off the line with Mignolet stranded.
The visitors improved after the interval and should have taken the lead in the 62nd but for an erratic attempt from Balotelli. After Adam lallana’s initial shot was parried by goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, the striker blazed over from six yards out with the goal unguarded.
Those frustrations seemed to have been quelled when Dunne put through his own net after quick thinking from Raheem Sterling. A rapid free kick caught QPR offguard and Glen Johnson’s cross was accidentally sent into his own net by Dunne.
QPR drew level for the first time when Vargas directed Austin’s header into the net, eight minutes after his introduction for Bobby Zamora. However, Coutinho struck in the 90th, bending a shot beyond McCarthy after being fed by Gerrard.
Vargas responded with his second in the 91st after his near-post header edged over Mignolet’s goal line, before another own goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time handed liverpool the points.
Sterling broke away down the right before his attempted cross for Balotelli was cut out by Caulker. Despite intercepting the pass, Caulker managed to guide the ball into the net to the disbelief of players and supporters.
The win lifts liverpool into fifth place on 13 points while QPR remain bottom of the table with four points after eight games into the season.