By Henry Winter at DW Stadium 1000PM GMT 08 March 2010
Back of the net Hugo Rodallega celebrates after putting the home side 1-0 up at DW Stadium Photo ACTION IMAGES Rafa Benítez"s "guarantee of fourth place all but fell off Wigan Pier on Monday. Liverpool were poor, deservedly slumping to their initial ever better to Wigan Athletic, whose important win was cumulative by Hugo Rodallegas first-half strike.
Full of using and belief, Roberto Martinezs side done a hoax of their 16th place at begin of play. In rising to 14th, Wigan were gladdened to a little measureless displays by their executive midfielders, Mohamed Diame and generally the teen James McCarthy, who entirely outplayed Steven Gerrard.
Lead purposes dont think about their prompts from Benítez Should Benitez give Gerrard the V-sign? Premier League list Saturday movement player rater FA no movement over Steven Gerrard "V sign"Wigan were not the usually winners. Liverpools rivals for fourth, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Aston Villa, will have relished examination Benítezs side falter. None of Liverpools vital players delivered with Fernando Torres and Gerrard quite disappointing, nonetheless they did have the satisfaction of Glen Johnsons acquire return. Liverpool were as diseased as Wigan were strong.
In a lively, open game, Wigans gait had uneasy Liverpool from the start, Charles NZogbia and the left-sided Rodallega drifting down the flanks to good effect, contrast Javier Mascherano, stuffing in again at right-back, but quite Emiliano Insua.
After Liverpool had in jeopardy an early new thing when Fernando Torres strike a post from Maxis knockdown, Wigan stormed in to the visitors, construction inexorably towards Rodallegas initial idea in thirteen games. Roberto Martinezs side were crook to the ball, personification with larger tempo, their enterprise embodied by the colourful immature midfielder James McCarthy, who plainly relished the charge of receiving on Englands majority new captain, Steven Gerrard.
Then NZogbia embarked on a good run, restraining Insua up in knots, and Liverpool were discovered usually by Jamie Carraghers discerning reactions in scuttling opposite to transparent up. Then Rodallega wriggled by the centre, his swell finished illegally by Lucas, who endured a unlucky initial half.
Rodallega unsuccessful to get enough drop on his free-kick that flew well over majority to the service of the outrageous fortuitous of Liverpool await collected at the behind of Pepe Reinas goal.
Worried about withdrawal space at the behind of them, Carragher and Sotirios Kyrgiakos forsaken deeper and deeper, simply mouth-watering Wigan on. Only an unblemished interception by Mascherano stopped an additional McCarthy surge.
Another Argentine was less composed, Insua clattering his high-speed tormentor, NZogbia.
Liverpool looked to their informed leaders to lift them. Until relocating in to the centre after the break, replacing the unknown Lucas, Mascherano shone at right-back, display gait and role down the wing. Gerrard attempted to find a proceed through, presented with a possibility following a little excellent proceed work by Yossi Benayoun. Slightly off-balance, Gerrard lopsided his shot wide. It reflected a first-half malaise.
Liverpool were as well diseased in possession, any aspiration gradual by the dispatch with that Wigan sealed them down. Gerrard frequency had time to breathe, let alone solve on the ball. McCarthy, particularly, hounded him.
When Dirk Kuyt afterwards forsaken deep, perplexing to soothe the pressure, Wigan simply harried him in to submission.
When the Dutchman means the round to Emmerson Boyce, Wigan scented blood. Their capability to move the round fast had already in jeopardy Liverpool poignant suffering and here they pounced to harmful effect.
Boyce quickly eliminated the round in to the box and there was Rodallega promulgation it past Pepe Reina. It was not the majority superb strikes of the Colombians career but it felt one of the majority precious.
Liverpool were utterly out of sorts, their mood not assisted by a dirty plea by Titus Bramble on Torres that perceived yellow but could have warranted red. Luckily for Torres, his studs were out of the ground. Yet Liverpool could additionally have lost a player. Insua, already cautioned, could have left for a tainted on McCarthy.
Liverpool roughly leveled only prior to the mangle but Torres misjudged Maxis cross. Benítez attempted to shake up his group up, bringing on Johnson for Lucas and relocating Mascherano in to midield, giving Liverpool a bit some-more punch opposite McCarthy. Yet still Wigan menaced, roughly adding a second when Reinas clearway strike Marcelo Moreno, the round looping goalwards, forcing Kyrgiakos in to an puncture clearance.
As Liverpool fans chanted "attack, attack, attack, Benítezs men sought to respond. Johnson, encouragingly, staid swiftly, display his aptitude for pushing down the right. Liverpool at last looked some-more of a cohesive unit, quite with Mascherano right away bringing a little venom to midfield. From one buccaneering run by the middle, Mascherano expelled Torres, who disfigured inside but found his trail shut off by Maynor Figueroa.
Torres was afterwards woefully far-reaching with a bombardment that dribbled apologetically out for a throw.
Benítez rang the changes again, introducing Alberto Aquilani for Benayoun and ushering Gerrard forward. Wigan, clearly tiring, strike back, since appetite by their energetic substitute, Victor Moses, and forcing a period of corners. With Wigan pushed forward, Liverpool sprung a counter, Insua hoisting over a cranky that Kuyt headed behind to Torres, whose bombardment flashed wide.
Some disappointment began to trickle in to Liverpool hearts, Torres earning a counsel for catching Diame. Gerrard followed him in to the book, receiving man and round with a plea on McCarthy. It reflected McCarthys and Wigans supremacy on the night.
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