Liverpool 3-2 Wigan Match Report – Kuyt Does It Again, Keeps The Reds Unbeaten Against 10-Man Wigan

Dirk Kuyt proved to be the hero yet again as Liverpool came from behind twice to score a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Wigan Athletic in their Premiership match at Anfield on Saturday.

Steve Bruce’s side had the best of the chances in the first half while the home side struggled to get themselves in any rhythm although Rafa Benitez’s men showed aggressive intent.

Amr Zaki scored twice for Wigan in the first half on either side of Kuyt’s goal. The second half saw a frantic pace to the action as the hosts chased the game. But a blow to the Latics in the form of a red card for Antonio Valencia, gave the Reds a man advantage in the last 15 minutes of the second half where Albert Riera got the equaliser before Kuyt came up with the winning goal.

The Latics showed that they were out to play their football and not merely to defend against the Reds, who are one of the two clubs still unbeaten in the season (the other being Chelsea).

Olivier Kapo found himself in the clear from the left side of the area, but his angular strike was well stopped by Liverpool's Pepe Reina.

At the other end, Riera sent a fine through ball for Robbie Keane, who opened his body from the left side, but failed to curl the ball enough to penetrate Kirkland’s goal.

Soon after, the visiting fans were celebrating as Premiership’s current top-scorer Zaki stunned the home side with a clinical finish in the 29th minute to bring up his seventh goal for the Latics.

The Egyptian forward, who is on loan from Zamalek, dispossessed Daniel Agger after Reds keeper Reina misjudged to get the ball out to the Danish defender, who clearly did not expect the Spanish custodian to bring him into the picture as Zaki raced onto him.

Kuyt scored the equaliser in the 38th minute for Rafa Benitez’s side with Agger playing a key role in the chance as he continued a run from the left and sent an assist to the Dutchman, who drilled home from seven yards.

Kuyt could made it 2-1 for the Reds in the closing stages of the first half, but he was denied as Kirkland got his fingertips onto the fierce strike to deflect it onto the woodwork.

Zaki scored his second goal of the match in the second minute of injury-time in the first-half, to take his tally to eight.

The Egyptian striker gathered the ball from a cross from Antonio Valencia on the right-wing, scissor-kicking the ball right-footed from 18-yards past Pepe Reina and into the bottom-right of the goal.

The Reds went close twice in quick succession approaching the hour-mark with Kirkland making a great reflex with his feet save off Kuyt, to keep his side in the ascendancy as the hosts piled the pressure.

The Latics almost caught out their rivals in the 67th minute as De Ridder latched on to a pass from the right side after Melchiot carried on a run, but could only manage to hit the side-netting.

Reds captain Steven Gerrard’s low free-kick from the top of the penalty area, missed the target by a whisker in the 72nd minute.

Wigan were reduced to 10 men in the 75th minute when Valencia received his second booking in the space of a few minutes from Alan Wiley. The Ecuadorian was also red-carded in the international break.

Alonso’s strike from 20 yards was deflected for a corner as the proceedings took a frantic pace with the Merseysiders with a man-advantage pushing for the equaliser. And it did not take long for the Reds to come back to level terms for the second time in the game with substitute Nabil El Zhar making an instant impact as he cut past a host of rival players with Gerrard playing a clever dummy, to set up Riera, who kept his composure and picked his spot in the 80th minute.

Substitute Yossi Benayoun had a superb chance in the box to set up any of his team-mates, who were in better position but the Israel winger, went for a shot that was however blocked.

But just a minute later, Kuyt came up with a crucial strike with an acrobatic volley off a cross from Jermaine Pennant, as the ball struck the underside of the bar before entering the goal.

Liverpool yet again showed their determination as they completed a come-from behind victory following up from their last outing where Kuyt had scored the winner at Manchester City.

Teams:

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa (Benayoun 79), Carragher, Agger, Dossena (El Zhar 77), Pennant, Gerrard, Alonso, Riera, Keane (Hyypia 90), Kuyt

Liverpool Substitutes not used: Cavalieri, Lucas, Insua, N’Gog.

Wigan Athletic: Kirkland, Melchiot, Scharner, Bramble, Figuero, Valencia, Cattermole, Palacios (Koumas 90), Kapo (Brown 82), De Ridder (Kilbane 79), Zaki.

Wigan Athletic Substitutes not used: Pollitt, Taylor, Boyce, Camara.