Liverpool's hopes of a Premier League top-four finish were dealt a major blow on Monday night, the Reds suffering a dismal 1-0 defeat by Wigan at the DW Stadium.
Liverpool's hopes of a Premier League top-four finish were dealt a major blow on Monday night, the Reds suffering a dismal 1-0 defeat by Wigan at the DW Stadium.
Hugo Rodallega scored the only goal of the game shortly before half-time, the Latics strike netting from close range after being superbly picked out by Emmerson Boyce, who had pounced on a horribly lose pass from Dirk Kuyt.
Liverpool had actually made a bright start to the game and came close to opening the scoring eight minutes in. Wigan failed to adequately clear Steven Gerrard's corner from the left and when Javier Mascherano helped the ball back into the box, it dropped invitingly for Fernando Torres. However, the Spaniard sliced his volley off the outside of the post.
With Chales N'Zogbia looking particularly menacing, though, Wigan began to gain a foothold in the game and they took the lead on 36 minutes. Kuyt inexplicably passed the ball straight to Boyce and the latter produced a sublime, first-time, outside-of-the-foot cross which was turned in by Rodallega.
Liverpool were slightly more lively after the restart and Torres fired over when well placed on 49 minutes.
However, the visitors never looked entirely sure of themselves at the back and Paul Scharner very nearly put the result beyond doubt in the 73rd minute but he failed to get to N'Zogbia's toe-poke across the face of the box before Glen Johnson.
However, Liverpool had an excellent chance to snatch an undeserved point late on only for Torres to volley Kuyt's knockdown inches wide.