This Week's Opposition: Queens Park Rangers

Find out more about the Blues' Boxing Day opponents.

The Blues held out for a draw against Derby County last time out after going ahead in the opening 6 minutes courtesy of a goal from Callum Lang.

John Mousinho’s side are still out of the relegation zone but only by 2 points and next up is Boxing Day at Fratton Park - QPR the visitors.

MANAGER

French manager Julien Stéphan is in charge of The Hoops.

Before turning to management, Stéphan was a defensive midfielder.

From December 2018 to March 2021, Stéphan managed his hometown club Rennes. With the side, he won the 2018/19 Coupe de France.

He went on to manage Strasbourg from July 2021 to January 2023 before being reappointed as manager of Rennes later that same year. He was then dismissed a year on.

This June, Stéphen was named as head coach of QPR, taking over from Marti Cifuentes. So far he has overseen 23 matches, accumulating 10 wins, 4 draws, 9 defeats.

ONE TO WATCH

Kōki Saitō is our one to watch on Boxing Day.

Born in Japan, he came through the ranks at Tokyo-based Yokohama FC, making his professional debut in the second tier of Japanese football at the age of 16.

Saito made 32 appearances and netted 3 times in the top flight in 2019/20.

The number 14 made the move to Belgium to play for second-tier side Lommel and had loan spells at Sparta Rotterdam.

Saitō made his first appearance at Loftus Road on loan in the 2024/25 season and he returned to the club on a permanent basis this summer after having racked up 42 appearances last campaign, scoring 3 and assisting 2.

The Japanese international already has 2 goals and 2 assists to his name this term, with his most recent goal coming just 2 minutes in against Leicester City at the weekend.

TOP SCORER

Rumarn Burrell is the club’s leading scorer with 9 goals and 3 assists at this stage.

Coming through the ranks at Grimsby Town, he made his first professional debut in April 2019 at the age of 18. He then made the move to Middlesbrough, although he never featured at The Riverside. He did have loan spells with Bradford and Kilmarnock though.

Burrell then signed for Scottish League One outfit Falkirk and also played for Cove Rangers before returning to English football with Burton Albion, who were fighting relegation in League One. He scored 5 goals in his last 9 appearances helping to secure their survival.

Before the striker completed a permanent switch to QPR from Burton in the summer, he was given his debut for Jamaica in May by former QPR manager Steve McClaren.

He wears the number 16 shirt.

CURRENT FORM

QPR are now sat in 7th, outside the Play-Off positions by 1 point.

The side moved up 3 places after their 4-1 victory at Loftus Road on Saturday against Marti Cifuentes’ Leicester.

The last time The Hoops won away from home on Boxing Day was back in 1967.

Can the Blues keep building on recent results and bring festive cheer to Fratton Park?

The Pompey Live team will be on air from 2:30pm on Boxing Day (Friday the 26th of December) to provide full coverage of this Championship encounter between Portsmouth and Queens Park Rangers at Fratton Park.

Kick-off: 3pm!