Harry Redknapp has launched a scathing attack on Adel Taarabt, the Morocco international who was missing from the Queens Park Rangers squad to face Liverpool in the 3-2 defeat at Loftus Road, claiming the player was overweight.

Asked an innocuous question about whether Taarabt was injured, Redknapp, whose team conceded twice in the last seven minutes, having twice equalised, did not hide his anger about the player’s fitness.

Redknapp said: “He [Taarabt] is not injured. He’s not fit. He’s not fit to play football unfortunately. He played in a reserve game the other day and I could have run about more than he did. I can’t pick him. I pick people who want to try, who deserve to be at a good football club like QPR, who come in every day and want to work, train and show a good attitude. When he starts doing that, if he ever can do it, maybe he’ll get a game.”