Premier League - Liverpool survive Wigan scare

Eurosport - Sun, 19 Oct 09:53:00 2008

Dirk Kuyt scored twice as Liverpool came from behind to snatch a 3-2 Premier League win against 10-man Wigan at Anfield.

Dirk Kuyt v Wigan, FOOTBALL - 0

The Dutchman struck the winner five minutes from time, shortly after Albert Riera equalised with his first goal for the club.

Wigan were leading 2-1 when influential midfielder Antonio Valencia saw red for a second bookable offence, having been given the lead by a superb first-half double from Amr Zaki.

Four times this season Liverpool have trailed late on but gone on to collect maximum points.

Having beaten Middlesbrough, Manchester United and Manchester City the hard way, Rafa Benitez's side once again dug deep to claim a win that had looked unlikely when Zaki sent the visitors into half-time with a 2-1 lead.

With two more goals, the Egyptian increased his tally to seven from his first eight Premier League games.

Zaki's superb start to the season has drawn excited comparisons with Alan Shearer from Wigan chairman Dave Whelan.

This bold assertion did not seem to outlandish after the 25-year-old's first-half double that showcased both his predatory instinct and his capacity for the spectacular.

First he dispossessed a day-dreaming Daniel Agger and slotted past Jose Reina then, with almost the last kick of the first half, volleyed spectacularly in from the edge of the box.

Unlike England strikers Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, Zaki proved he does not need Emile Heskey to get the best out of him.

Heskey did not feature following his international exertions, yet Zaki looked comfortable playing as a lone striker with Daniel De Ridder behind him.

Midway through the first half, Olivier Kapo tested Reina with a powerful low drive from the left side. Minutes later at the other end, Robbie Keane had a similar position after a perceptive through-ball from Riera, but opened his body and sent his shot wide of the far post.

Agger's aberration came a minute before the half-hour, when Reina passed to him at the edge of the box.

The Dane took a heavy touch, then compounded his error by failing to react quickly enough. By the time he attempted to nick the ball past Zaki, the striker was already on him, snatching possession and finishing low into the right corner past Reina.

Agger did not have to wait long to atone for his mistake. On 37 minutes he went on a marauding run down the left and cut a low ball back to Kuyt whose low shot squeezed past Chris Kirkland.

Kuyt then hit the crossbar before Zaki, with first-half stoppage time ticking down, unleashed his second party piece.

Valencia clipped a cross from the right that appeared to be too far behind him, but an acrobatic scissor kick sent the ball arrowing past Reina into the far corner.

Liverpool have become accustomed to adversity and did not panic, gradually applying more pressure as Wigan were forced back into their own final third.

Xabi Alonso and Kuyt went close before Steven Gerrard saw a deflected free-kick hit the outside of the post.

In the lead-up to that set-piece, Valencia was booked for encroachment, an offence that gained huge significance on 74 minutes when the Ecuadorean picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Alonso.

Almost immediately, Wigan caved in. Nabil El Zhar teed up Riera in the 79th minute, and the Spaniard sent a low, right-foot shot into the corner of the net.

The Liverpool tide became irresistible, but there was more than a slice of luck about the winner.

Kuyt attempted a Zaki-esque volley from a Jermaine Pennant cross. He miscued it and sent the ball into the ground, only to see it bounce up and over the sprawling Kirkland, who should have done better.

Alex Chick / Eurosport

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  1. Jess,what nice poem or song i guess,maybe u can create some for Kathy..hehehe,abeleekelate,yup i forgot to mention it,but not only once but twice..That's the fact for chelsea fan..Jess,email me teach me how to make poem or nice song =)

    From stevegerro, on Sun 19 Oct 8:13PM

  2. jessmcquiston - what a pathetic 'song'. I always get a good laugh with the inmates of cesspit anfield. Man Utd (who I do NOT support) have the biggest fan base and have had since the sixties. If you can't get your facts straight then stop lying (on the other hand you do support lfc...................!)

    From Mike S, on Sun 19 Oct 8:02PM

  3. sussexdietcoke,
    will u piss of and stop leaving comments!! u dnt support liverpool so piss off!! Man uTD R SCUM! and liverpool do hve the biggest fan base!!

    oh by the way people i am da same person as patmcquiston. i just have 2 accounts!!

    FROM SHANKLEY TO RAFA WE'VE FOLLOWED OUR TEAM
    ROME TO INSTANBUL WE'VE ALL LIVED THE DREAM
    OUR JOURNEY IS LONG, OUR GOALS STAY THE SAME
    TO KEEP FOR OUR CHILDREN, THE FAMOUS RED NAME
    WHEREVER WE ARE, WHEREVER WE STAY
    TO BE SURE THE KOPITES WILL SIEZE THE DAY
    FOR THIS IS OUR DESTINY, OUR PASSION AND PRIDE
    LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB; THE WORLDS GREATEST SIDE!!!

    YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE!!!

    From ...J£$$Y McQ..., on Sun 19 Oct 7:50PM

  4. Kathy the only thing your big on is breasts. What are you a DD cup?

    From John W, on Sun 19 Oct 7:23PM

  5. kathy we beat sunderland dis season

    From sukhraj.bagri@..., on Sun 19 Oct 5:42PM

  6. liverpool4eva

    From sukhraj.bagri@..., on Sun 19 Oct 5:39PM

  7. Stevegerro, in addition, before the famous come back, was it Chelsea with 11 men fall down to great Liverpool.

    From abeleekelate, on Sun 19 Oct 5:25PM

  8. New history to be made against Chelsea.
    1. Keane's first goal for Liverpool in PL,
    2. Chelsea first defeat of the season,
    3. Chelsea first defeat in Stamford Bridge.
    What a game!

    From abeleekelate, on Sun 19 Oct 5:21PM

  9. Liverpool to win EPL this season...
    Come on The Reds...

    You'll Never Walk Alone...
    You'll Never Walk Alone...
    You'll Never Walk Alone...

    From deddi a, on Sun 19 Oct 5:05PM

  10. Liverpool were @#$% yesterday and we know it,i was very disapointed with the performance.
    But hey a win is a win is a win.

    From MICHAEL M, on Sun 19 Oct 3:36PM

  11. Liverpool very lucky team but it doesnt mean they're no ability to win,.Means 4 times in the row close to lose but fight back to win the match,.Liverpool in the history of football to do that,they're no 1 in that situation,come again remember what happen in Istanbul final 3 years ago,did Ac Milan play 10 men?Absolutely not..For Chelsea fan who know nothing about Liverpool history just check it out the most unbelieveable and miracle moment in champions league..The answer is 2005 CL Final Istanbul Liverpool vs Ac Milan,.0-3 down but level 3-3 and won the match in penalty spot,did u remember Jerzy Dudek dance???Ask Inter Milan fan who always make the dance to show Ac Milan fan..So,the fact here is there's no matter u to win the match against 10 or 11 men but how to show the character to win as Liverpool show us in the last 4 four games,.Never give up,determination,and u should have a Captain Fantastic,Steven Gerrard..I'm wrote based on fact in Liverpool match history..You'll Never Walk Alone!

    From stevegerro, on Sun 19 Oct 3:00PM

  12. Hey kathy your in dream world!!! If there a win itll be by one goal hopefully liverpool one if not this game is all tha makings of a 0-0 or 1-1 draw and for the record most football pundits and myself reckon that if anyone will take Chelseas undeafeated record at home away from them it the Mighty Liverpool. Comon Gerrard!!! and you wont win 5-0 with your second team with likes of Liverpool we have torres injured check out your list of injuries it is doubtful that any of the coles will be on the pitch, Drogba out promoting his mew book 101 ways to dive and Ballack out getting his hair cut and nails done!! Liverpool 1-0

    From Triple X, on Sun 19 Oct 2:47PM

  13. kathy do you want a boy? im free!!a big liverpool fan !!haha!!you are a big chelsea ................... i likea big chelsea loser!!
    gerrard is comming!!!
    come on liverpool
    come on rafa
    come on gerrard!!

    From Bratu, on Sun 19 Oct 2:11PM

  14. ahsun236, so wat if million of ppls walk wif liverpool, when they versus man.city, they were 2 goals down and when lucky to come back to 2-2, pablo then gonna sent off, kuyt again were lucky to score the winner, versus wigan they so-called big club liverpool can even go down two times and get lucky to win 3-2. shameful performance...0-0 versus stoke at anfield, 3-2 against man.city, 3-2 against wigan, 0-0 wif sunderland, this call college skill and not talent skill, dun hide the truth and cheat urself by saying liverpool will win against chelsea, the match play at STAMFORD BRIDGE and not anfield, chelsea will make liverpool play like school boy at stamford bridge by winning 3-1. even if chelsea going to anfield, chelsea will still win by 1-0.

    From kathy, on Sun 19 Oct 1:39PM

  15. Am Ishaak a liverpool supporter, believe me or not this time 'loserpool' is 'deep waters'(any team that plays around it has to drown!). Chelsea won't take away our record, we are going to defeat them at the bridge by 2:1.

    From ISHAAK, on Sun 19 Oct 1:31PM

  16. Quote of the week from Alan Shearer on Match of the Day. Pundit's summary of Liverpool v Wigan.

    "Both teams were excellent - and I include Wigan in that"

    From Malc, on Sun 19 Oct 1:24PM

  17. Liverpool doesn't needs luck...b'cos Liverpool never walks alone.?They can beat any team,,,,,MU,EVERTON,MC, next will be Chelsea........

    From ahsun236, on Sun 19 Oct 12:40PM

  18. Kathy go back and wash the dishes!

    From John W, on Sun 19 Oct 12:36PM

  19. Xabi has a record. 'Helped' 3 men, Tim Cahill(Everton), Zabaleta(Man City) and Valencia(Wigan), get red cards in 3 CONSECUTIVE Premier League matches. He seems to be a magnet for bad sliding tackles.

    And how did Chris Kirkland push that marvelous shot into the bar and miss Dirk's miscued siccors kick?

    I'm a Liverpool fan

    From Guang Yan, on Sun 19 Oct 12:26PM

  20. bratuclaudiu88,what a @#$%.

    From robbo, on Sun 19 Oct 12:22PM
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