Premier League - Wigan make Liverpool pay

Eurosport - Thu, 29 Jan 11:11:00 2009

Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres were both controversially substituted as Wigan held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at the JJB Stadium.

2008-2009 Liverpool-Wigan Steven Gerrard - 0

Egyptian striker Mido scored a late penalty on his Wigan debut, calmly stroking the ball low to the right of Pepe Reina on 83 minutes after Lucas Leiva brought down substitute Jason Koumas.

Liverpool had led through Yossi Benayoun's strike four minutes before half-time, but a series of bizarre tactical decisions by Rafael Benitez allowed Wigan back into the match.

With the visitors in control of the match, Benitez brought off lone striker Torres for midfielder Albert Riera, despite having a bench containing strikers Dirk Kuyt and Robbie Keane - who has been linked with a move away from the club despite only joining from Tottenham in the summer.

Kuyt came on soon afterwards, but to play on the right after an injury to Benayoun, with winger Ryan Babel moved inside to lead the line.

Wigan soon equalised and only then did Keane enter the fray but - inexplicably - Benitez took off Gerrard, the talismanic captain who so often scores late goals for Liverpool and is arguably the best midfielder in the Premier League.

Wigan could even have snatched all three points when new signing Hugo Rodallega came off the bench to smash a spectacular injury-time free-kick off the crossbar.

Liverpool started well enough. Babel began the game on the left despite disappointing in the 1-1 FA Cup fourth-round draw with Everton, with Riera benched.

It initially seemed a smart enough decision, when his surging run freed Gerrard on the left, whose cross was met by a glancing Torres header that came off the inside of the post.

The visitors were playing some good football, with Benayoun causing Maynor Figueroa all kinds of problems while Babel stung the palms of stand-in keeper Mike Pollitt after another run down the left.

They took a deserved lead on 41 minutes when Javier Mascherano played a delightful through ball to Benayoun, who skipped away from Emmerson Boyce.

His initial effort was well saved, but the Israeli winger latched on to the loose ball and - from an impossibly acute angle and with Pollitt closing him down - slipped an excellent finish across the goal-line and inside the far post.

Gerrard sent a long-range free-kick inches over the bar in first-half stoppage time, and Liverpool were cruising going into the break.

The second half was a sluggish affair, with chances few and far between and Wigan in the ascendancy purely on account of Liverpool's relative disinterest.

Benayoun forced Pollitt into action again after some scintillating play on the right, while Gerrard sent a half-volley just wide of the far post.

Then came Rafa's madness. Liverpool threw away their last Premier League lead in a 1-1 draw with Everton after taking off both Torres and Keane.

This time he withdrew Torres, rubbing salt into Keane's already gaping wounds by introducing Riera in his place.

Then, when Benayoun limped off, Kuyt was introduced, and forced to play wide with Babel inexplicably preferred as the lone, central striker.

Only after Mido levelled from the spot did Keane enter the fray, but at the expense of Gerrard; it was too little, too late and ultimately pointless as neither Lucas nor Mascherano provided the Gerrard-esque attacking drive from midfield.

It would have been poetic justice of sorts had Rodallega won it with his cracking free-kick from 25 yards, with Steve Bruce introducing the little Colombian and Koumas in a genuine attempt to create opportunities.

The draw means that Manchester United are now two points clear of Liverpool at the top of the standings, with a game in hand over the Merseyside club, while Chelsea have leapfrogged them to go second.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Comment 398 - 417 of 417

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. I will always be your Fan...... LIVERPOOL

    From , on Fri 30 Jan 7:11AM

  2. Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools Liverfools

    From miniroll32, on Thu 29 Jan 5:43PM

  3. Liverpool don't have the bottle. They'll crack soon. It's not just because of Rafa. Your stupid owners wont let him buy ANY new players. They were not good last night. They were lucky 2 have held us not the other way around. They're a dirty side. The ref let em get away with everything! We should have had 2 penalties. Neva mind 1.

    From laticsgirl, on Thu 29 Jan 4:43PM

  4. Oh! Liverfool is just returned to the position that it uses to be in the Champion over the last decade. Manunited waited for 26 years to get its another Champion and so it will only be another 7 years to go for Liverfool. Be patience!!

    For Rafa, keep him till the end of the 7th year counting now, but beware of being going into bankruptcy, esp. in time of financial tsunami. Rafa is just wasting the money of Liverfool. I don't want MU to lose a good rival later.

    From oi chai, on Thu 29 Jan 4:21PM

  5. LIVERPOOL:YOU WILL NEVER WIN AGAIN !!!!

    From Eromosele, on Thu 29 Jan 4:20PM

  6. DRAWPOOL 0 CHELSEA 0
    MORE DRAWS PLEASE!!!
    MANU 4 LIFE!

    From Eromosele, on Thu 29 Jan 4:16PM

  7. Being a die-hard fan since 1986, I will always love Liverpool FC but... I fcking hate Rafa from now on ! Time has come for him to go... thanks God he didn't sign this contact offered to him. Please Mr. Hicks and Mr. Gillet, let him go and try to have Mr. O'Neill (if he accepts the job) for example !

    Go Liverpool... and go away Mr. Benitez !!!

    From Mervin A, on Thu 29 Jan 3:39PM

  8. I dont know about the second half "being crazy"as Rafa put it!I think at this moment in time it is Rafa who is crazy.No Alonso on,Stevie and Torres off when Liverpool need a goal!Lucas on from the start of the match-what can you say?Get your tactics back on track Rafa or Liverpool are doomed this season.

    From jvrad71, on Thu 29 Jan 3:09PM

  9. I've already said it before...we played too tactical and negative at times under rafa benitez. I bet sammy lee can do a better job. Rafa may feel its unfair to him to have an unwanted player signed by the board(robbie keane) but for pete's sake he's better than babel or kuyt! Give that lad a chance or sell him off while u still can and stop the political power play! Its madness!! REMEMBER,... THE kOP can GEt You Out if they want

    From AsianFootie, on Thu 29 Jan 2:57PM

  10. lol

    From rewandjew, on Thu 29 Jan 2:26PM

  11. Let's leave RAFA alone; he is probably giving out his best but the 'best' seem not to be enough.

    I suggest we should allow him to plan his 'retirement' peacefully.

    From tunjianjorin, on Thu 29 Jan 2:15PM

  12. Oh dear, looks like the title race is over for Liverpool yet again. Theres not much i can say that has not already been posted. Benitez has to go - 100%. Liverpool are never gonna win the title with him at the helm, and his treatment of Robbie Keane is nothing short of disgraceful. The guy is just too stubborn to be succesful, and playing these silly little power games with the board when you are sliding down the table is simply crazy. We need Dalglish back to bring back some of the pride and passion that is sadly lacking both on the pitch and off it.

    From Lee 1973, on Thu 29 Jan 1:15PM

  13. Rafa Benitez is one of the worst managers in the history of Premier League! I am a HUGE Liverpool Fan and I can't understand why is he doing this to us?!?!?! Is he a Man United supporter??? Because he acts as one. After Champions League 2005 and buying Torres he does NOTHING but rubbish! If I were him, in this moment I would pack my bagage and go back to Valencia. He was my favourite manager 3 years ago. Now I really HATE his attitude to the club and to the supporters! This MUST be his last year at Anfield! To all Man United fans: say a HUGE THANK YOU RAFA. He wo the title for you this year.

    From Petko G, on Thu 29 Jan 1:11PM

  14. Honestly,I see liverpool in 4th place at the end of the season unless BENITEZ adjust quickly to his TECHNICAL STUPIDITY!He splash #20m on ROBBIE KEANE and could not exercise patience nor give him enough chance to prove himself & to justify the #20m. I ask,why did he buy him in the first instance?Obviously,most new players to a team may have a poor start except few and will bounce back with PATIENCE,ENCOURAGEMENT and REGULAR GAMES when fit to boost thier confidence and adapt to the system and patern of their new teams.All these were lacking in ROBBIE KEANE'S case. Even the likes of : Ronaldo, Berbatov,Tevez,Pavlychenko,Daren Bent e.t.c all had a poor start to their respective new teams but with encouragement,regular games and patience from their coaches,they have or begin to justify their investments.

    The Biggest mistake BENITEZ will commit is to over relied on TORRES at the expense of other strikers!If am right,I think KEANE played better and score a couple of goals during the games SAMMY LEE was incharge! Also, I think with the exception of TORRES and SKRTEL, the best eleven for LIVERPOOL were displayed duriing SAMMY LEE few games incharge.I beleive TORRES is still not fit enough to start games.Surely,He is a worldclass striker,but when injury happens like this,it will take some time to get back to his best and superb performance.The same thing is what DROGBA is going through which pave way for ANELKA and KALOU.

    So far, ALONSO, GERRARD and CARRAGHER alone have performed above average in BENITEZ prefered starting eleven.Arguably,GERRARD and LAMPARD are the best ENGLISH PLAYERS but sometimes thier performances are bad!That is to tell us that good footballers can equally have bad games!If LIVERPOOL is to compete for any HONOUR this season, RAFA should use: BENAYOUN, ROBBIE KEANE,RIERA & HYYPIA often and minimize the inclusion of KUYT,BABEL,ARBELOA and LUCAS who knows nothing than to commit a serious blunder as he did to MASCHERANO at BEIJING 2008 OLYMPIC.

    From mayowa_badmus2002, on Thu 29 Jan 12:47PM

  15. If the pool don't win the title they have themselves to blame we should be way clear now. Rafa's got to figure out how to beat packed defences and stop leaking stupid goals at the end of games. Give Yossi more starts, get a wide game, find more midfield creativity and find another Steve Gerrard. Go the pool! Man U R Crazy and will get relegated next year! You heard it here first.

    From brunobear71, on Thu 29 Jan 12:30PM

  16. liverfool to win the league......yeah rite

    From dilly, on Thu 29 Jan 12:28PM

  17. Azmi, ni faizal dari kuching, Liverpool selalu dok main cam tu, tapi kena ada kepercayaan yang l'pool akan menang EPL. Hang mesti caya no!.

    From jutkunil, on Thu 29 Jan 11:36AM

  18. why ever chance liverpool had of winning the championship has now gone. believe me the my just clinch 4th now!!! am not a man u fan or any prem team 4 that matter but i follow it intencely . liverpool have drawn too my games at this point to become champions ... plus they are set up as a cup team ... a team that goes into a cup match as underdogs too. benitez systems are crazy he has too prolific dutch strikers converted to wingers kuyt and babbel, a proven prem striker warming the bench in keane and clems like lucas and Benayoun and hyypia getting vital game time at a club were they are not good enough to be boot boys. its time to cut losses with benitez now bar torres hes signing have being baffelling! there are only one or two players that are showing passion in there play most should be ran.!!! its a sorry state of affairs at such a big famous club. by the by chelsea will pip united, bet of the season!

    From jonathan c, on Thu 29 Jan 10:53AM

  19. Drawing is a loss if you play in the top FIVE elnino, if draws gave 2 points then that would be different, but only giving 1 its basically a loss and unnacceptable.

    From Olizandri, on Thu 29 Jan 10:50AM

  20. Oh and just another point, Pool have so far this season lost to just one team, its not far away now from turning draws into wins. So get off the managers back if you are a Pool fan, and if you arent, who cares what you think anyway!!!”

    What a load of drivel. Over the past ten years United have spent £34 million than Liverpool, which equates at £.4 million a season, so don’t come the hard luck story. The main difference is, United shop at Harrods, Liverpool shop at the local pound shop.
    I suggest you check your facts first. It is no one else’s fault Liverpool are in the position they are but their own.

    From elnino, on Thu 29 Jan 10:42AM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account