Premier League preview: Manchester United v QPR

Manchester United will want to avoid becoming the latest victims of upset specialists Queens Park Rangers when the teams meet on Sunday.

QPR have sprung two major surprises in their last three matches, beating Liverpool 3-2 and Arsenal 2-1, with both wins coming at their Loftus Road home.

Mark Hughes’ team, facing the toughest run-in of any relegation-threatened team, were given little chance of survival by most observers.

But the triumph over Arsenal last Saturday, which marked the end of a six-match winning run for their opponents, helped QPR climb out of the bottom three, at the expense of Blackburn.

Next up is a trip to face league leaders United, who did QPR a favour by keeping Blackburn inside the drop zone with a 2-0 away win on Monday.

While positive results at home to Liverpool and Arsenal were unexpected and celebrated, securing a victory away to the defending champions is an altogether more challenging prospect.

United have won seven league matches in succession to wrest top spot away from Manchester City, and appear on course to successfully defend their title.

And they will be in no mood for an unexpected slip-up against opposition promoted from the Championship last term.

United defeated QPR 2-0 in the reverse fixture on December 18, thanks to goals from Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick.

Their manager, Alex Ferguson, will be missing several important players, with centre-back Nemanja Vidic and midfielder Darren Fletcher ruled out for the rest of the season.

Fletcher’s fellow midfielder Anderson is not expected back until the end of the April, but fringe striker Michael Owen is nearing a return to availability.

For QPR, Hughes may be without defender Armand Traore, who is doubtful with a hamstring strain, but centre-back Fitz Hall could return from a knock.

Striker Djibril Cisse is suspended, and fellow forwards Heidar Helguson and DJ Campbell are lacking match fitness.

The loss of playmaker Alejandro Faurlin for the rest of the campaign continues to be a major blow to QPR’s survival hopes.