Liverpool displaced Queens Park Rangers at the top of the First Division with a 4–0 win at Anfield on 17 October 1987. John Barnes supplied the opening goal and scored the last two, finishing with a solo run through the visitors’ defence.
QPR arrived three points ahead, having conceded only five goals in ten league matches. Liverpool had played eight, winning seven and drawing one. Victory would put Kenny Dalglish’s side level on points with the leaders and ahead on goal difference.
Rangers defended with a sweeper, but threatened on the break early on. Bruce Grobbelaar turned over Gary Bannister’s attempted lob and stopped Ian Dawes’s header from a Warren Neill cross.
Liverpool went ahead four minutes before half-time. Barnes created the opening and Craig Johnston finished right-footed past David Seaman. At 65 minutes, Terry Fenwick handled a Barnes free-kick under pressure from Gary Gillespie, and John Aldridge converted the penalty.
Barnes then exchanged passes with Aldridge and scored with his right foot. With five minutes remaining, he won possession around halfway and carried the ball towards goal. He escaped Fenwick’s challenge, evaded Paul Parker and finished low past Seaman.
The result left both clubs on 25 points, with Liverpool still holding two games in hand. QPR’s goal difference had fallen to seven; Liverpool’s stood at 22.