Premier League: Liverpool 1 QPR 0

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez brought his side’s disappointing run of home draws to an end, earning them a 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers.

The home side were dominant throughout, and QPR goalkeeper Radek Cerny was on top form to keep his side in the game, but Suarez scored with a header just over a minute into the second half to secure all three points.

The first real action of the match came in the 10th minute as Suarez planted a header straight at Cerny but the Uruguayan should have done better after he found himself unmarked in the centre of the penalty area.

Chances were at a premium in the opening stages, but Liverpool were in control on their home turf with QPR finding it difficult to get out of their own half.

Maxi Rodriguez came close to opening the scoring on the half-hour mark, forcing a superb save from Cerny after he got in behind the QPR defence.

It was all Liverpool as half-time approached. Stewart Downing embarked on a fine run down the right wing before playing Suarez in at a tight angle.

The striker initially attempted to chip the ‘keeper, and when the rebound fell to him he blazed a shot well over.

During that run of play Anton Ferdinand landed awkwardly after a challenge and it seemed the defender would be forced off on a stretcher, but he recovered to help his team reach half-time on level pegging, as Cerny made another good stop to deny Downing.

QPR were perhaps fortunate to go into the break all square, but that did not last long as Suarez opened the scoring just after the interval.

The Rangers’ rearguard left the striker unmarked and he found himself on the end of Charlie Adam’s cross to head home from six yards for his first goal in eight Premier League games.

And things went from bad to worse for QPR moments later as Ferdinand was forced off with injury following a tackle from Charlie Adam.

Liverpool were beginning to cut open the QPR defence at will, but Cerny was having a fine game in goal, tipping Maxi’s effort from 12 yards onto the post before getting down well to stop a Dirk Kuyt volley minutes later.

And he was called into action again to prevent Maxi from adding to the lead, this time denying the winger from close range.

QPR had not been in the game in an attacking sense, but did begin to exert some pressure as the match wore on, with Joey Barton putting in some dangerous crosses, one of which Pepe Reina punched clear from just under his crossbar.

Craig Bellamy, fresh from the substitute’s bench, almost doubled Liverpool’s advantage with a little over five minutes to go as he whipped a free-kick into the side netting.

With minutes remaining, the away side had a credible penalty appeal turned down as Alejandro Faurlin chested the ball down before Martin Skrtel appeared to kick him in the arm.

Shaun Wright-Phillips almost found the back of his own net, sliding back to try and clear a cross but hitting the crossbar.

The away side continued to probe the Liverpool goal in the closing stages, but it was to no avail and they came away from Anfield empty handed.