LIVERPOOL 1 - 2 WIGAN

Another LOSS for LIVERPOOL FC!!

Wigan gave their survival hopes a massive boost with a first-ever win at Anfield as Liverpool's desperate run of league form continued.
Shaun Maloney fired the visitors ahead from the spot but his goal was cancelled out by Luis Suarez, finishing crisply from Steven Gerrard's pass.
The Uruguayan had a goal disallowed for handball before Gary Caldwell stunned the home crowd with a neat finish.
The defeat was Liverpool's fifth in their last six Premier League games.
The scoreline, and alarmingly flat performance, will increase the pressure on manager Kenny Dalglish, who has constantly insisted that the club are making progress this season.

For Wigan and their manager Roberto Martinez, the victory was crucial to their chances of beating the drop, taking them level on points with 18th-placed QPR, within one point of safety.
The Latics refused to be overawed by their more celebrated opponents and were good value for just their second win in 14 league games.
After a cagey start, Wigan fashioned the first clear opening as Victor Moses cut in sharply from the right and worked space for a shot, but his effort was blocked by Martin Skrtel.
Liverpool dominated possession in the early stages but lacked any conviction or subtlety in the final third, their growing frustration encapsulated in an angry exchange between Luis Suarez and Stewart Downing.
After 26 minutes, the home side finally worked a chance as a Suarez flick put Downing into space inside the box, but his low strike fizzed past the post.
Moments later, Wigan were awarded a penalty as Liverpool failed to clear a free-kick and, when the ball was returned to the box, Skrtel was penalised for a high challenge on Moses.
After a delay for Moses to receive treatment, Maloney kept his composure to expertly tuck home his first goal for the club.
The goal sparked an improvement in Liverpool's play and Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi was the busiest man on the pitch for the remainder of the half.
First he dived to his left to save a curling Suarez shot from outside the area, and then he reacted sharply to keep out a deflected Gerrard drive.
Dalglish brought on Andy Carroll at half-time and the Reds were soon on level terms as Skrtel and Suarez worked some space on the right for Gerrard, who squared for the Uruguayan to finish neatly.
Shortly afterwards, Suarez was celebrating again after bundling home Skrtel's far post header.

But the goal was ruled out after referee Lee Mason consulted his assistant, replays appearing to confirm that the striker - who was booked - had used his hand to turn the ball in.
Having believed momentarily that they were ahead, Liverpool were soon behind as Wigan conjured a goal out of nothing.
James McCarthy's drive deflected off Jamie Carragher into the path of Caldwell, who turned inside Carroll and lashed past Pepe Reina.
A near-silent Anfield looked on in disbelief as a rag-tag Liverpool struggled to mount any sort of fightback.
Bereft of alternatives, Dalglish turned to 17-year-old winger Raheem Sterling, who replaced Dirk Kuyt to become the club's third youngest debutant.
But Liverpool's main tactic was to hoist long balls towards Carroll, an ineffective ploy until the giant striker's flick-on found Suarez, whose low drive was easily kept out by Al Habsi at his near post

Liverpool 2 - 1 Wigan

Liverpool relieved the pressure on manager Rafael Benitez with a morale-boosting victory over Wigan.
David Ngog's glanced header put the Reds ahead, although Liverpool missed several chances to add to their lead.
Jason Scotland volleyed against the crossbar for Wigan as he almost punished Liverpool's profligacy.
Fernando Torres tapped in at the second attempt to seal the win before Charles N'Zogbia scored an injury-time consolation strike for the visitors.
The victory was only Liverpool's fourth in the last 16 games and whether this will be a false dawn like the other wins remains to be seen.
But they moved up to sixth in the league courtesy of a much-needed three points and also marked a special occasion for the club with a determined performance.
Liverpool were celebrating the 50th anniversary since former manager Bill Shankly took over at the club and earned legendary status during nearly 15 years in charge.
Shankly took the club from the old second division - the current Championship - and won three league titles, two FA Cups and a Uefa Cup as he kick-started a golden era in the club's history which saw the Reds go on to dominate in English football and in Europe.
Those memories are in stark contrast to the present team's struggles this season, although the Reds quickly took control against Wigan.
Liverpool were rewarded with a goal after nine minutes when Ngog glanced in a header from Fabio Aurelio's angled cross after ex-Reds keeper Chris Kirkland failed to punch the ball away.
But the Reds are fragile at the back and would have conceded an immediate equaliser had Paul Scharner been more precise with a free header which he could only steer straight at keeper Pepe Reina.
Benitez had insisted beforehand his players were better than their Champions League exit and lowly league position suggested and they were trying to back up his words with actions.
Ngog pulled a ball back for fellow striker Dirk Kuyt and he struck a true close-range shot which Kirkland did well to fend away for a corner.
Then with Wigan clinging on at times, French forward Ngog pounced and angled a drive wide of the far post, yet Liverpool could not get a second goal to give them some breathing space.
Kuyt had a shot blocked following a goalmouth scramble before he got on the end of another Ngog cross only to see his volley brilliantly tipped over by Kirkland.
Liverpool let a lead slip in their 2-1 defeat by Arsenal on Sunday and, even though they showed little sign of capitulating in similar fashion, the home contingent were becoming anxious as the Reds tried to add to their slender lead.
Agger missed a header from a Steven Gerrard corner to add to their supporters worries and those concerns almost turned to despair when Scotland somehow missed a glorious chance.
Wigan deserved something at Anfield - Martinez
Reina failed to punch away a free-kick as he went up with Scharner and Hugo Rodallega, and when the ball fell for Scotland, he could only volley against the crossbar from eight yards.
Wigan kept Liverpool on their guard moments later as Rodallega had a free header blocked but Torres finally relieved the pressure when he scored on his 100th appearance for Liverpool.
He burst clear on the Wigan goal, rounded keeper Kirkland and, despite his initial shot being blocked by Titus Bramble, the Spanish striker picked up the loose ball and tapped in for his 61st goal for the Merseysiders.
N'Zogbia cut across the Liverpool box and fired in a low strike with two minutes to go but the home side held on.

Liverpool 1-1 Wigan

Titus Bramble struck a late equaliser to take Wigan out of the Premier League relegation zone and further dent Liverpool's faltering title hopes.
Bramble struck with a 20-yard strike after a poor defensive clearance by Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard.
Fernando Torres had earlier put the home team ahead with a precise finish while Chris Kirkland made several excellent saves to deny Gerrard.
The result leaves Liverpool 12 points behind leaders Arsenal.
Rafael Benitez's team have a game in hand on the Gunners but their failure to win at Anfield against a team starting the match in the relegation zone does little for their title credentials.
Benitez selected Torres as the lone striker but introduced Peter Crouch and Dirk Kuyt shortly after Bramble's 80th-minute strike - a measure of the manager's desperation to collect all three points.
The Spaniard cut an animated and frustrated figure as the clock ticked down but counterpart Steve Bruce must have been delighted with his team's third away point of the season.
Bramble's strike was not only Wigan's first goal against the Reds in the top flight but also gave the Latics their first ever point off one of the 'big four' of Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea.
There seemed little hint of an equaliser after Torres's goal had finally warmed the crowd on a bitterly cold night at Anfield.
Torres had shown excellent link-up skills and his lay-off to Gerrard started the move that the Spaniard himself finished from Steve Finnan's square ball to put Liverpool ahead after 49 minutes.
There had been increasing signs of frustration from the stands and the goal seemed to ease the home side.
Gerrard almost doubled his team's advantage with a vicious free-kick that Kirkland did well to parry.
And Kirkland again foiled Gerrard after Bramble had equalised, first parrying a long-range strike and then smothering the follow-up.
Wigan went into the game having lost just one of their last four outings and were happy to compress the field of play, closing the space between the two defensive lines to try to stifle their opponents.
Michael Brown, as combative as always, almost stunned the home crowd with a well-struck half volley from 25 yards that narrowly missed Pepe Reina's goal after 19 minutes.
But after a slow start to the game Liverpool eventually found their way through the Wigan defence and forced a series of saves from former Reds keeper Kirkland.
Javier Mascherano tried to side-foot the ball home after collecting an intelligent return pass from Torres, who later played Gerrard through only for the skipper to make a poor contact with his shot.
Liverpool appealed for a penalty after Torres went down under pressure from Paul Scharner, while the Spain striker headed over from a Xabi Alonso free-kick before Torres put the home side in front.
· Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez on his team's title prospects:"We need to do almost everything perfect now but if you lose points like this it makes it more difficult.
"When you have chances you need to take them and finish the game.
"Now we need to think about the FA Cup against Luton, you cannot look at the whole season it is too long."
· Wigan boss Steve Bruce:"It gives everyone a huge lift. We were really disciplined and stuck to the game plan well.
"I have always liked Titus, he just needs a bit of confidence and he will only get better.
"It is always going to be difficult at Liverpool as they have world class players but for the last six weeks we have produced some good performances."
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Arbeloa, Carragher, Aurelio, Pennant (Kuyt 86), Alonso, Mascherano (Crouch 84), Kewell (Benayoun 74), Gerrard, Torres.Subs Not Used: Itandje, Riise.
Booked: Mascherano, Torres.
Goals: Torres 49.
Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Scharner, Bramble, Kilbane, Valencia, Landzaat, Brown, Taylor (Koumas 79), Heskey (Sibierski 84), Bent.Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Boyce, Olembe.
Booked: Scharner.
Goals: Bramble 80.
Att: 42,308
Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).

Benayoun earns praise

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez had special praise for Yossi Benayoun after the Israel international grabbed the only goal of the game in the vital win at Wigan Athletic.
It looked as though the Reds would have to settle for another Premier League stalemate following their recent 0-0 draws with Portsmouth and Birmingham City until substitute Benayoun pooped up to score the all-important winner.
A relieved Benitez said: "I brought him here for these kinds of games.
"When you are trying to find a solution, you need players of creativity and quality, and Yossi gives us that.
"I am not saying he will start every game on the bench, it's just that in this instance I wanted to do different things.
"Yossi played the other night (in the Carling Cup against Reading) and I needed fresh legs, so I started with (Jermaine) Pennant.
"We created some chances and you need to take them if you want an open game.
"Because we didn't we needed to bring on players with different skills and Yossi was good, it was perfect."

Wigan 0 - 1 Liverpool

Second-half sub Yossi Benayoun sunk Wigan with a terrific finish but it was tough on the battling Latics.who have still to take a single point from any of the Premier League's so called big four.
Benayoun was sent on to replace Fabio Aurelio and broke the deadlock 20 minutes later, showing neat footwork before burying the chance from eight yards.
And in a dramatic finish Julius Aghahowa glanced a stoppage-time header just wide when he really should have scored.
Liverpool's record buy Fernando Torres had had chances galore in the first half, but the lethal touch he showed when he hit a Carling Cup hat-trick against Reading deserted him and it was goalless at the break.
But there was controversy when Wigan twice had strong penalty appeals turned down.
A Michael Brown shot struck Steven Gerrard on the arm and in the other incident Paul Scharner was flagged offside as Aghahowa appeared to be brought down in the box by Jame Carragher.
The Reds had produced the first threat of the game when skipper Gerrard forced his former team-mate Chris Kirkland into action after just 66 seconds.
He beat the wall with a well struck free-kick but Kirkland got down well to hold it safely.
Torres had his first sniff when strike partner Dirk Kuyt played him in but the shot lacked power and Emmerson Boyce blocked it.Jermaine Pennant had one effort deflected off course and three times Torres found himself in good positions but failed to cash in.
A mistake by Jason Koumas gifted him a real chance but Kirkland used his legs to block and the rebound went wide.
For Wigan Marcus Bent tried his luck from long range and a speculative strike from Josip Skoko failed to trouble Jose Reina.
Torres looked in vain for a penalty when he went down under a challenge but the replay revealed no contact.
But the Wigan claims - rejected by the ref - looked more convincing.
The Latics did have the ball in the Liverpool net when Bent hammered in Skoko's cross but he was ruled offside.
Koumas had Reina at full stretch and Kirkland earned his money keeping one out from Kuyt as the game opened up.
There was more drama as Scharner chased a long ball into the box, but he was beaten by the bounce after getting a slight touch, and it went wide.
Gerrard rattled one just past the post as the Reds turned the screw and the reward came when Benayoun raced on to Pennant's pass, turned Titus Bramble and Kirkland was finally beaten.
Wigan tried desperately to salvage a point with Ryan Taylor going close and Aghahowa missing with that late header.