with gerrard out meireles was put deeper in midfield and suarez played alongside kuyt.
it wasn't a pretty start by the reds as wigan had most of the possession early in the match. wigan played direct style of football and they didn't waste much time to probe into liverpool's penalty area. but the boys stood well.
its not until midway through the first half, kelly sent a cross into the box where the ball later dropped at aurelio's feet on the far post. a second cross from aurelio which was headed clear by a wigan defender and was volleyed into the back of wigan's net by the hot-scoring raul meireles. 5th goal in 6 games.
luis suarez himself had a chance when he drifted from the right side of wigan's penalty area went inside the box and curled the ball which apparently only managed to hit the post. half-time ended 1 - 0 to liverpool.
already without gerrard and agger, kenny dalglish had to withdraw meireles (suspected to have an injury) on the 54' and came in ngog. and wigan never looked like to stop trying to breach pepe's goal. on the 65' minute they finally managed to draw level to a 'controversial' goal that might seem as an off-side position from the scorer steve gohouri. the goal stands.
from a cross on liverpool's left hand side the ball touched a few players before gohouri tucked it from close range. a sloppy defending from liverpool. suarez had another chance from a free-kick which hit the bar in the second-half.
liverpool players tried to get the second goal but it never came. it ended 1 - 1 with liverpool having 19 shots on goal and 53% of possession.
the mid-week international break must have some contribution to this. kuyt although full of running never really managed to get into the game. lucas having his 100th appearance for the reds wasn't himself and maxi is still struggling to really stamp his mark into the team.
but credit to all of them. they worked hard and always full of running. credit to wigan too as they really worked the liverpool players to the limit with their direct style of play.
on the brighter note, liverpool fans will be delighted to see suarez for the full 90 minutes. he hit the post and the bar on each half of the game. good link-up play with kuyt and at times will drop to midfield to cover for others when they lost possession. he was just un-lucky not to get his name on the score sheet. and liverpool will have another dimension of football once andy carroll is fit.
dropping 2 points when they actually need to gain more to have a realistic chance to qualify for the champions league is not too bad. it is far better than dropping all 3 points.
its just pleasing to see the players worked so hard to get a win. they were just unlucky. even the boss has admitted the team lacked their usual 'egde'. next is europa league in midweek. we won't be able to see suarez as he is cup-tied but hope that meireles, gerrard and agger will be back. YNWA
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