Liverpool 1-2 Wigan Athletic
Saturday, 24th March 2012
Premier League
Anfield
Liverpool fell to their fifth defeat in six league games and second home league defeat of the season at the hands of relegation candidates Wigan on Saturday afternoon.
Dirk Kuyt started with Luis Suarez in attack, whilst there was another midfield place for Jay Spearing. Youngster Jon Flanagan played in place of Glen Johnson.
Shaun Maloney’s penalty on the half hour mark after Martin Skrtel had fouled Victor Moses gave the visitors the lead, but Luis Suarez popped up early in the second half to fire home an equaliser and the Reds then looked set to go on and win the game.
But shambolic defending from the Reds let in Gary Caldwell to score a winner for Wigan in front of the Kop. The ball ricocheted to Caldwell, onside, in the Reds penalty area. The Wigan defender turned neatly past last defender Andy Carroll (yes, last defender Carroll) and slotted past Pepe Reina.
Late on saw the introduction of 17-year-old promising winger Raheem Sterling for the Reds, and his bursts of pace were a very exciting sight for the Anfield faithful.
But it was all too late as Liverpool slumped to another frustrating day and another dreary defeat
Line-ups
Liverpool: Reina, Enrique, Carragher, Skrtel, Flanagan, Gerrard, Henderson (Carroll – 46′ ), Downing (Shelvey – 73′ ), Spearing, Suarez, Kuyt (Sterling – 84′ ).
Substitutes: Doni, Aurelio, Coates, Sterling, Shelvey, Carroll, Eccleston.
Wigan Athletic: Al Habsi, Alcaraz, Caldwell, Boycem, Figueroa, McCarthy, Maloney, Moses (Crusat – 42′ ), McArthur, Beausejour (Watson – 62′ ), Di Santo Booked (Sammon – 81′ ).
Substitutes: Kirkland, Stam, Thomas, Crusat, Watson, Gomez, Sammon.
Ref: Mason
Att: 44,431
Fan Comments