Queens Park Rangers throw support behind Rio Ferdinand after defeat to Liverpool

Premier League side are beaten 2-1 but pledge to fight to avoid relegation.

Leroy Fer shows his support for teammate Rio Ferdinand after scoring for Queens Park Rangers during their 2-1 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday. Ferdinand’s wife died from cancer at the age of 34, with Fer’s shirt carrying the message ‘Stay Strong Family Ferdinand’. Phil Noble / ReutersShow less

Chris Ramsey, the Queens Park Rangers manager, has vowed his side will cling to the very last semblance of hope in their fight to stay in the Premier League but acknowledged events over the weekend put things in perspective for everyone.

Just hours before the 2-1 defeat at Liverpool, which reduced their chances of avoiding the drop significantly, it was announced QPR defender Rio Ferdinand’s wife Rebecca had died from cancer at the age of 34.

“It does put things into perspective. There is a very solemn atmosphere in the changing room for both reasons,” Ramsey said.

“The players have run their socks off and come away with nothing again, but the events of earlier have put things in the right context.

“The players used it as a strength. Rio would have wanted that and requested that, but I wouldn’t say it had a bearing on why we didn’t come away with a point.”

Of Ferdinand, Ramsey added: “Everyone will tell you, as a man, he has been absolutely fantastic.

“He has come in and trained, kept it to himself, not been moping or had the world on his shoulders. He’s talked to the young players, he has been a man-mountain.

“We only have good things to say about him and the way he has conducted himself. Our thoughts are with him and his family, and we hope they can pull together and find strength at this tragic moment.”

Defeat left Rangers seven points from safety with just nine to play for, and they head to Manchester City next weekend.

Asked whether it was almost impossible to avoid the drop Ramsey added: “Yeah, but the word ‘almost’ is what you need to cling on to.

“The fans can see what the players are trying to do. We are not going out with a whimper.

“We hope that we can muster up three more fantastic performances to get those nine points and help make the last few weeks interesting.”

QPR’s disappointment was made greater because they had dragged themselves back into the game at Anfield through Leroy Fer’s volley after Philippe Coutinho had put the hosts ahead in the first half. However, after Steven Gerrard missed a penalty, defender Nedum Onuoha was sent off for a second bookable offence and the visitors could not hold on as Gerrard headed in the winner two minutes from time.

The former England captain has just three games remaining of his Liverpool career before he leaves for the Los Angeles Galaxy, and manager Brendan Rodgers said: “A lot of players, when they miss a big penalty their game goes and their confidence goes. He is the opposite.

“He is one of a unique group of players that when they need to respond, they do. An outstanding header gets us the win.

“It is a world-class talent. There is a very small group of players in that bracket when, in the big games, they score the big goals and make the big contributions and he has done that throughout his career.

“He missed a penalty and you think it may go against us, but there was no one more determined to make up for it.”

The win ended a miserable past two weeks for Liverpool after they lost 2-1 to relegation-threatened Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-finals and saw their hopes of a top-four finish severely damaged as they played out a goalless draw at West Bromwich Albion and lost at Hull City.

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