Veteran striker, Tommy Smith scored for QPR at a gloomy Goodison Park
BBC
JoyousQueens Park Rangers took their first Premier League win since 1996 after veteran Tommy Smith's assured first-half finish punished Everton, while Aston Villa hammered Blackburn Rovers 3-1 and Swansea played goalless with Wigan.
In their first match under new owner Tony Fernandes, the visitors led on 31 minutes when Smith curled in low after Phil Jagielka had lost possession.
Tim Cahill headed wide from three yards out soon after, before Leighton Baines whipped a free-kick against the bar.
Wasteful Everton fell to their first home league defeat of 2011.
Despite the financial pressures on them, long-serving Toffees boss David Moyes has insisted he can keep hold of his most established players.
But 17-year-old Ross Barkley started, and shone, in midfield while experienced playmaker Mikel Arteta and Maroune Felliani sat on the bench.
Playing their first match of the season after the scheduled opener at Tottenham was postponed because of the recent riots, Everton began with enterprising purpose.
Jermaine Beckford, spearheading the attack on his own, could not connect with a scissors kick while Cahill - bravely diving low - was inches away from putting his head on a wicked Baines delivery.
Following inventive jinking work from Barkley, Baines then curled an almost perfect free-kick over the wall, but his effort crashed down off the bar.
As Shaun Derry battled hard for the visitors, QPR - who had been hit by a virus in the camp - snatched the lead.
Jagielka gave the ball away uncharacteristically, allowing Akos Buzsaky to feeding a pass to Smith in the box, and the 31-year-old took a touch and spun to curl the ball instinctively beyond Tim Howard into the bottom corner.
Sliding Jagielka was a second too late to atone for his error.
Unmarked, Cahill missed Everton's best chance - a virtual open net - after Beckford had swung over a threatening cross to the back post.
Rangers were caught dozing seconds after the break but Jack Rodwell lifted a weak shot into Kenny's hands when the clear chance demanding a powerful, low strike.