Liverpool 1 Wigan 1: Latics bogey continues as Steve Gohouri puts skids on Reds' revival

Liverpool were left feeling sick, literally in the case of goalscorer Raul Meireles, as their determined drive towards a Champions League place hit a reality check at Anfield. After four straight wins, Kenny Dalglish's side missed a chance to close on Chelsea and Tottenham when Wigan's Steve Gohouri snaffled a 65th minute equaliser from a suspiciouslylooking offside position.By that time, however, Meireles was off the pitch, withdrawn early in the second half after vomiting during the interval. Firing home: Meireles blasts Liverpool in frontIn his absence, ?23 million strikerLuis Suarez, on his first start, came to the fore with two smashedattempts against the woodwork and annoying Wigan with an alarmingtendency to throw himself to the floor.Dalglish felt the midweekinternational exertions affected his players, including Meireles, whohad to travel to Geneva to play for Portugal against Argentina.'He didn't feel too clever in thefirst half and then spewed up at half-time,' said the Liverpool boss.'We're not sure what it is. It might been a bug or maybe heover-exerted himself. It wasn't the cooking at Melwood! [Liverpool'straining ground].' Take that: Steve Gohouri gets stuck in and Luis Suarez goes downSuarez was easily the most energeticplayer in a red shirt, hitting the post early on with a wonderfulswivel and shot that left marker Ben Watson for dead.He also hit the crossbar with awonderful free-kick one of the many that he won off Wigan defenderGary Caldwell, who played in a mask after surgery on a depressedcheekbone on Wednesday.Dalglish was delighted with Suarez's contribution. 'He is energetic and skilful. It is not difficult to warm to him,' he said. Looking on: Steven Gerrard watched from the stands (right) as Leiva Lucas (left) and Raul Meireles celebrateUnderstandably perhaps, Wiganmanager Roberto Martinez was less enthusiastic about Suarez's efforts.'Three-quarters of the free-kicks that he won weren't free-kicks,' hesaid. 'He uses his body very cleverly,he's done it for years at Ajax and for Uruguay. For the yellow card[Caldwell], there was no contact.'Injuries to Daniel Agger and SteveGerrard meant Dalglish could not usethe wing-back system that gainedhima vital 1-0 victory over Chelsea atStamford Bridge last Sunday. MATCH FACTSLIVERPOOL: Reina; Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel,Johnson; Maxi, Lucas, Meireles (Ngog 54min), Aurelio; Suarez,Kuyt (Jovanovic 73). Subs (not used): Gulacsi, Pacheco,Kyrgiakos, Wilson, Poulsen. Booked: Carragher.WIGAN: Al Habsi; Gohouri, G Caldwell, Alcaraz,Figueroa; N'Zogbia, Watson (McArthur 72), McCarthy, Diame,Moses (Cleverley 67); Rodallega. Subs (not used): Pollitt,Di Santo, S Caldwell, Gomez, Stam.Booked: Gohouri, Alcaraz, G Caldwell.Referee: K Friend (Leicestershire).But full-back Martin Kelly was stillable to get forward and helped create the opening goal after 24minutes. The youngster's cross to the far post was played back by FabioAurelio. Gohouri's attempt to head clear only reached the edge of thebox, from where Meireles volleyed past Ali Al Habsi for his fourth goalin five games.Al Habsi got behind two shots fromDirk Kuyt, while Suarez, in orange boots, gave a glimpse of the futureby skinning Watson and curling a low shot onto a post. Midway through the half, Wiganlevelled when Charles N'Zogbia's cross was glanced on by AntonioAlcaraz for Gohouri to stab in. Surprisingly, no Liverpool playerscomplained but TV replays indicated he was offside.Dalglish, who will have Gerrard backfor their next league game in a fortnight's time, conceded: 'Wiganmight have felt hard done by if they'd lost.'Martinez said: 'We had long periodsof possession in the first half but  didn't have the belief you need toreally hurt a team like Liverpool. I thought the reaction was great andCaldwell showed he is a real leader with that performance after the[cheekbone] injury.' All the action from today's Barclays Premier League matchesThe Matt Lawton interview: Gerrard on how striving to make a differenceLIVERPOOL FC

Source: Daily_Mail