Source: Daily_Mail
Wigan 1 Liverpool 1: Mido's debut spot-on to punish stuttering Liverpool
by CHRIS WHEELER[LNB]Maybe Robbie Keane would have been better off staying at home and watching this one on television as well. [LNB]Nine minutes, including stoppage time, was all Liverpool's[LNB]disillusioned striker was given to save the day last night after Mido had marked his debut with a dramatic late penalty to cancel out Yossi Benayoun's first-half goal and deal another damaging blow to Liverpool's title hopes. [LNB]The moment that Wigan[LNB]equalised, manager Rafael Benitez summoned Keane off the bench, where he had been conspicuous by his absence for Sunday's FA Cup derby with Everton, preferring to watch that game from the comfort of his own lounge after being unceremoniously axed from the Spaniard's squad. [LNB][LNB] Back of the net: Yossi Benayoun scores a stunning opener for Liverpool[LNB] [LNB]But there was to be no twist in the tale, no late heroics from the £20million summer signing, and no evidence of Liverpool's challenge picking up any time soon. [LNB]This was their third draw in a row in the Barclays Premier League - aside from the Cup stalemate at Anfield - at a time when rivals Manchester United have hit top gear.[LNB] Benitez needed a big performance after a weekend dominated by the Keane saga, and for 84 minutes it looked as though his team had responded against a battling Wigan side who - it should be remembered - were embarking on life after Emile Heskey and Wilson Palacios, and were also without the injured Antonio Valencia and Chris Kirkland. [LNB] Outcast: Liverpool's Robbie Keane[LNB] The former Liverpool goalkeeper was unable to face his old club because of a bad back, meaning Mike Pollitt was called on to make only his second appearance since August. [LNB] Crazy Rafa blames the world and admits: I don't know what is happening at Liverpool anymore[LNB]Wigan manager Bruce slams 'disgusting' City for unsettling his star man Palacios[LNB]WIGAN FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB]Crazy Rafa blames the world and admits: I don't know what is happening at Liverpool anymore[LNB]Crazy Rafa blames the world and admits: I don't know what is happening at Liverpool anymore[LNB]LIVERPOOL FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB][LNB]Formidable they were not, but at least manager Steve Bruce was able to start Mido up front alongside his Egypt team-mate Amr Zaki, with Colombia striker Hugo Rodallega taking a place on the bench after his international clearance came through with two minutes to spare. [LNB]Not surprisingly, it was Liverpool who made the brighter start and there were only 13 minutes on the clock when Steven Gerrard crossed for Fernando Torres to send a downward header against the inside of Pollitt's right-hand post. [LNB]Then Ryan Babel and Benayoun combined with a neat one-two for the Israel international to fire in a low cross that looked to be heading for Torres until Mario Melchiot intervened with a crucial touch. [LNB]Liverpool were not to be denied, however, and went ahead through Benayoun shortly before half-time. [LNB]Although a trip to Wigan is not everyone's idea of a good time, it certainly seems to agree with Benayoun, who scored his first League goal for Liverpool here last season, six months after he was on target for West Ham in their dramatic escape from relegation. [LNB]Gerrard was still on the ground appealing for a free-kick when Javier Mascherano took possession and nutmegged Michael Brown. [LNB]The Argentine slid a pass behind the Wigan defence and Benayoun was on to it in a flash, taking the ball round Pollitt and twisting to turn the ball in from the tightest of angles with the help of the same post that had earlier denied Torres. [LNB][LNB] Held again: Mido fires home Wigan's penalty on his debut at the JJB Stadium[LNB]Gerrard almost made it two with a blockbuster of a free-kick that whistled inches over the bar on the stroke of half-time, but another would have been harsh on Wigan, who were more than happy to take the fight to Liverpool after the break in an increasingly physical encounter. [LNB]Zaki flashed a header wide from Taylor's corner to the near post, while Gerrard could and perhaps should have increased Liverpool's lead in the 75th minute, racing clear of the Wigan defence only to drive the ball wide of the far post. [LNB]Benitez sent on Albert Riera for Torres and Benayoun was replaced by Dirk Kuyt - who, for the first time this season, had not started a League game - but still Keane was made to wait for his chance. [LNB]Then in the 83rd minute it all went wrong. Wigan substitute Jason Koumas drew Lucas into a clumsy challenge inside the box and referee Phil Dowd pointed straight to the spot. [LNB][LNB] Not again: Liverpool No.2 Sammy Lee and the Steven Gerrard look dejected[LNB]Mido could have been forgiven for ducking the penalty on his debut, but with Zaki off the pitch he was happy to step forward and take the responsibility. [LNB]Until then his performance had been a mixture of robust aerial challenges and unsuccessful fancy flicks, but the Egyptian stepped forward to drive the ball past Pepe Reina. [LNB]On came Keane for an exhausted Gerrard but it almost got worse as Wigan's other new boy went within a whisker of a goal, Rodallega driving a 30-yard free-kick against the bar in stoppage-time. [LNB]Not quite enough to give Wigan that long-awaited win against one of the Big Four clubs, but more than enough to inflict another damaging blow to Benitez and his beleaguered players. 'Crazy' was how the Liverpool boss rather curiously described it afterwards. Keane would surely agree.[LNB] Crazy Rafa blames the world and admits: I don't know what is happening at Liverpool anymore[LNB]Wigan manager Bruce slams 'disgusting' City for unsettling his star man Palacios[LNB]WIGAN FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB]Crazy Rafa blames the world and admits: I don't know what is happening at Liverpool anymore[LNB]Crazy Rafa blames the world and admits: I don't know what is happening at Liverpool anymore[LNB]LIVERPOOL FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB] [LNB] [LNB]
