Perhaps it is a little too early in the season to describe Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City as strugglers, but they both no doubt would've hoped for better starts to the Premier League campaign. QPR -- who welcome the Potters to Loftus Road in Saturday's early kickoff -- have won only once all season; picking up three points from their opening four matches. Stoke, meanwhile, are only a point better off. Should either of these sides lose this match, the pressure would mount yet further.
Queens Park Rangers vs. Stoke City live stream: How to watch the EPL online, TV schedule and more
Queens Park Rangers host fellow strugglers Stoke City in Saturday’s early kickoff.
Clive Brunskill
Key player - Rio Ferdinand (Queens Park Rangers)
Rio Ferdinand joined QPR on a free transfer from Manchester United in the summer in the hope that he would still be able to compete in the top tier for another couple of seasons. After a handful of matches, the jury is still out. While he's still positionally good, his lack of mobility and uncharacteristically poor distribution from the back has landed QPR in hot water at times this season, and he could struggle against the pace of Stoke's forwards.
Key matchup - Victor Moses vs. Mauricio Isla
Stoke's loan signing of Nigerian youngster Victor Moses in the summer was quite the coup, after he spent last season as a rotation player at Liverpool. The tricky winger is a great player for a team like Stoke, who can use his pace to great effect on the counter-attack. In this match he'll be up against Chilean international Mauricio Isla, who has had a slow start to life as a QPR player. Isla can't afford to be on another off-day.
Queens Park Rangers injuries and suspensions
Out: Alejandro Faurlín (knee). In doubt: Joey Barton (hamstring), Jordon Mutch (knock),
Stoke City injuries and suspensions
Out: Peter Odemwingie (knee). In doubt: Geoff Cameron (abdomen), Stephen Ireland (rib), Erik Pieters (unspecified).
QPR have no new injury problems. Alejandro Faurlín is still out with his devastating third consecutive ACL tear, while his midfield teammates Joey Barton and Jordon Mutch both face late fitness tests. Stoke’s only definite absentee is Peter Odemwingie, though he could be joined on the sidelines by midfielder Stephen Ireland and defenders Geoff Cameron and Erik Pieters.
Match Date/Time: Saturday, 12:45 p.m. local, 7:45 a.m. ET
Venue: Loftus Road, London, England
TV: NBCSN (U.S.), Sportsnet World (Canada), BT Sport 1 (U.K.)
Online: NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S.), Sportsnet World Now (Canada), BT Sport 1 (U.K.)
See More:
