Stoke City vs QPR Predictions, Lineups & Betting Tips

Stoke City vs QPR Predictions, Lineups & Betting Tips

Match Details: January 17, 2026 | bet365 Stadium | EFL Championship | 15:00 GMT

Stoke host QPR off the back of their FA Cup triumph over league leaders Coventry, with that game being their third win in a row as they look to reestablish themselves as a side that can compete at the top end of the table. QPR have faltered in recent weeks, failing to pick up results against some of the poorer sides in the division, all due respect, so will look to beat Stoke in true Robin Hood fashion, stealing points from the successful sides and giving back to those who are struggling.

Key Betting Tips: Stoke to Win @ 2.05 odds on BoyleSports, QuinnBet and Coral, or 1.95 odds on Kwiff all represent good value based on the tip provided by Football Park's advanced algorithm.

Having returned to winning ways in recent weeks, Stoke look likely to reignite their play-off push with a win against chasing QPR with good odds.

Alternative Betting Tip: BTTS @ 1.87 odds on BoyleSports

Despite Stoke keeping clean sheets in each of their last three, Football Park's algorithm still has a high confidence in both sides to score, as do the bookies based on the odds, so it could still be worth considering it.

Stoke City vs QPR Predicted Lineups

Stoke City Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Tommy Simkin; Bosun Lawal, Ben Wilmot, Ashley Phillips, Maksym Talovierov; Ben Pearson, Tatsuki Seko; Sorba Thomas, Tomáš Rigo, Million Manhoef; Divin Mubama

Both Aaron Cresswell and Lewis Baker are anticipated to return later this month, while Robert Bozenik, Viktor Johansson and Eric Bocat are likely to be out until February. Defender Ben Gibson has also picked up an injury, and his return date is currently in doubt.

QPR Predicted XI (4-4-2): Ben Hamer; Rhys Norrington-Davies, Steve Cook, Jimmy Dunne, Amadou Salif Mbengue; Koki Saito, Isaac Hayden, Nicolas Madsen, Karamoko Dembélé; Rayan Kolli, Richard Kone

QPR are missing several important first team players, including Jonathan Varane, Rumarn Burrell and Ilias Chair. Both Jake Clarke-Salter and Liam Morrison should be back in action in the next few weeks, though Ziyad Larkeche is out with a long-term cruciate ligament injury.

Stoke City vs QPR Current League Standings

After suffering a dramatic slip throughout the month of December, Stoke appear to have recaptured the excellent form they held at the start of the season with three wins in a row, two of which came in the league to keep their play-off hopes alive. Unfortunately for the Potters, pretty much everyone around them also won their last league outing, so they weren't able to jump straight back into the play-offs yet, but are only one point away heading into this game. Stoke can boast the best defensive record in the league, conceding just 23 goals in 26 games, which no side has done better than, giving them an extra confidence boost at the back as they prepare to face QPR.

After a start to the season that wasn't the most convincing we've ever seen from QPR, they seem to have recuperated and are now one of the outsiders in the race for promotion, only three points behind sixth placed Watford. Owing to the competitive nature of the Championship, the sides around them are closely compacted within a small number of points, so a result either way could dramatically change the immediate outlook of their season.

Stoke City vs QPR Head-to-Head Timeline

Home advantage tends to make a major impact in this fixture, with the last five encounters between the two sides seeing whoever hosts usually win, with one draw between them in that time. As a result, they've shared the spoils with two wins each in that period, making this a very even fixture in recent times. If we look across history, though, its QPR who hold the advantage with 23 total wins to Stoke's 15, with a further 12 games ending even.

Recent Head-to-Head Results:

• September 20, 2025: QPR 1-0 Stoke City (Championship)
• March 29, 2025: Stoke City 3-1 QPR (Championship)
• November 23, 2024: QPR 1-1 Stoke City (Championship)
• February 14, 2024: Stoke City 1-0 QPR (Championship)
• November 28, 2023: QPR 4-2 Stoke City (Championship)

Stoke City and QPR Recent Matches Analysis

Stoke City Last 5 Matches:

• Stoke City 1-0 Coventry City (H) - FA Cup
• Stoke City 2-0 Norwich City (H) - Championship
• Stoke City 1-0 Hull City (A) - Championship
• Stoke City 1-2 Sheffield United (H) - Championship
• Stoke City 0-0 Preston (H) - Championship

It looks like Mark Robins has overcome the extended difficult patch that Stoke suffered through the back end of November and the whole of December, turning Stoke back into a side that could threaten right at the very top of the table. Three wins in a row, all without conceding a goal, is the perfect way to have started the New Year and has established the Potters as a side worth being wary of again. Four clean sheets in the last five games is a remarkable record to have built up recently, especially considering young goalkeeper Tommy Simkin has replaced the injured Viktor Johansson for the last three.

QPR Last 5 Matches:

• QPR 1-2 West Ham (A) - FA Cup
• QPR 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday (H) - Championship
• QPR 1-2 Norwich City (H) - Championship
• QPR 1-2 West Brom (A) - Championship
• QPR 1-1 Portsmouth (A) - Championship

QPR have really struggled lately, bar their comfortable 3-0 win against a Sheffield Wednesday side that literally couldn't be suffering more. They played three sides that are far below them in the table in Pompey, West Brom and Norwich, but only managed to take one point in an incredibly disappointing run of results that stopped them from making a push into the play-offs. They did give West Ham a good go in fairness, but were just outclassed by the Premier League side who may well be in the Championship next season.

Stoke City vs QPR Predictions

Our advanced algorithm analyses over 200 data points to generate these predictions with a 53.30% confidence in Stoke to Win, as well a 66.70% confidence in BTTS. The model factors in current form, head-to-head records, player availability, and tactical matchups.

Best Stoke City vs QPR Betting Tips

Football Park’s Best Bet: Stoke to Win @ 2.05 odds on BoyleSports, QuinnBet and Coral - With three wins on the bounce, Stoke look like they've returned to being the formidable opponent they were at the start of the season, and should thus be able to beat QPR in this one.

Key Players to Watch: Stoke City vs QPR

Sorba Thomas (Stoke City): Thomas had an unbelievable start to the season but, as Stoke's form dipped, so did his. The Welsh international has rediscovered his form though, with a goal and assist in the 2-0 win against Norwich taking him up to an outstanding 15 goal contributions in the Championship so far this season, more than anybody else in the division. With tricky feet and an eye for goal on the left flank, he'll be looking to make life difficult for the QPR backline and add to his seemingly ever-growing tally of goals and assists this season.

Nicolas Madsen (QPR): The Dane has been one of QPR's best players in recent weeks, delivering some solid performances from the midfield consistently across the season. He's notched up six goal contributions in the league so far this season and is one of the more incisive players in the squad, able to create chances from deep for Burrell and Kone to be able to dispatch.

Stoke City vs QPR Match Facts

Broadcast Details: N/A

Referee: Matt Donohue

Stadium Information: Name, capacity and a fact

Stoke City vs QPR: Final Prediction

Stoke City 2-1 QPR