LONDON — Burnley, fresh off clinching Premier League promotion, roll into Queens Park Rangers’ Loftus Road on April 26, 2025, with their sights set on the Championship title. The Clarets, unbeaten in 31 matches, face a QPR side scrapping to halt a mid-table slide. Here’s the lowdown on team news, predicted lineups, and how to catch the action.
Burnley’s camp is buzzing after sealing a top-flight return. Manager Scott Parker, speaking on April 24, confirmed no new injuries from the squad that thumped Bristol City last week. Defender Jordan Beyer, sidelined since March with a hamstring tweak, is back in training but unlikely to start. Midfielder Aaron Ramsey, however, is ruled out until May with a knee issue. Parker’s expected to stick with the 4-2-3-1 that’s steamrolled opponents. Up top, Lyle Foster, with 12 goals this season, leads the line, flanked by wingers Manuel Benson and Luca Koleosho. Arij Aresta, the 19-year-old sensation, anchors midfield alongside Josh Brownhill.
QPR, meanwhile, are licking wounds after a 2-0 loss to Norwich on April 19. Manager Martí Cifuentes, under pressure amid whispers of discontent, got a boost with left-back Kenneth Paal’s return from a calf strain. Paal slots back into the starting XI, per the club’s April 26 lineup announcement. Midfielder Ilias Chair, nursing a minor knock, is fit to start, but striker Lyndon Dykes remains out with a thigh injury sustained on April 5. Cifuentes is likely to deploy a cautious 4-4-2, leaning on Chair’s creativity and Michael Frey’s physicality up front to trouble Burnley’s stingy defense, which has conceded just 15 goals all season.
The match kicks off at 12:30 p.m. at Loftus Road, a compact ground where QPR’s faithful will try to rattle the visitors. Burnley’s path to the title hinges on winning their final two games—starting here, then against Millwall on May 3—while hoping league leaders Leeds slip up. QPR, sitting 14th, have little but pride to play for, though they’ve nabbed four points from their last two clashes with Burnley.
Fans can watch live on Sky Sports, with coverage starting at 11 a.m. Referee James Linington, who’s brandished 82 yellows and one red in 22 games this season, takes charge. His last Burnley match was their 2-1 win over Watford in December.
Burnley’s predicted lineup: Muric; Assignon, O’Shea, Esteve, Taylor; Aresta, Brownhill; Benson, Odobert, Koleosho; Foster.
QPR’s predicted lineup: Walsh; Dunne, Cook, Fox, Paal; Colback, Field; Smyth, Chair; Frey, Andersen.