• Date: Sat 29 September 2007
  • Venue: The JJB Stadium
  • Ref: Clattenburg, M
  • Attendance: 24,311

Wigan Athletic vs Liverpool

Team Lineups

Wigan Athletic

Chris Kirkland
Paul Scharner (Ryan Taylor, R, 82)
Emmerson Boyce
Titus Bramble
Mario Melchiot
Kevin Kilbane
Josip Skoko
Jason Koumas
Michael Brown
Julius Aghahowa
Marcus Bent

Liverpool

Jose Manuel Reina
Sami Hyypia
Alvaro Arbeloa
Fabio Aurelio (Yossi Benayoun, 56)
Jamie Carragher
Steven Gerrard
John Arne Riise
Javier Mascherano
Jermaine Pennant (Andriy Voronin, 82)
Dirk Kuyt
Fernando Torres (Mohamed Sissoko, 89)


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

Liverpool have won it thanks to Benayoun's strike 15 minutes from time, the Reds just about deserving the slender win.

90

That was a great chance for Wigan right at the end

90

As the game goes into injury time, Agahowa wastes a tremendous chance to equalise, heading wide with the goal at his mercy

89
Substitution
 

Torres goes off, Momo Sissoko replaces him

88
Yellow Card
 

Melchiot is booked for dissent

87

Time is running out for Wigan now, but Liverpool look fairly comfortable at 1-0 with a few minutes left

85

Aghahowa fouls the Liverpool hero Benayoun

83

Koumas' free-kick is over as the Latics look for an equaliser with less than 10 minutes left

82
Substitution
 

Wigan make a change too, as Scharner, who has picked up a knock, is replaced by Ryan Taylor

82
Substitution
 

Pennant is replaced by Andriy Voronin by Rafa Benitez

80

Torres sees another shot blocked - this time by Titus Bramble

79

There's been a bit of trouble in the stands, as it appears some Liverpool fans are in the Wigan end

77

Torres is caught offside as Liverpool press for a crucial second

75

The goal from the substitute is no more than the visitors deserve here

74
Yellow Card
 

And Brown is also shown the yellow card

74
Goal
 

Benayoun scores a fantastic individual goal, twisting one way then the other to finally put Liverpool in front

73
Yellow Card
 

Javier Mascherano is booked for Liverpool

70

Liverpool have managed at least eight shots on target but still Wigan hold on at 0-0

68

Liverpool will be desperate to avoid another goalless draw - expect much more from the Reds in the last 20 minutes

65

Gerrard blasts wide from distance

64

The visitors are getting frustrated now, despite being the better side they are failing to create enough clear chances

61

Koumas's pass finds Scharner but his lofted effort is wide

60

That was a great chance for Kuyt, Liverpool really should be in front by now

58

Boyce gets in the way of another shot - this time it's Kuyt who is frustrated

57

Koumas' corner is met by the head of Mario Melchiot, but his effort goes over the bar

56
Substitution
 

Aurelio is replaced by the more attack-minded Yossi Benayoun for Liverpool

53

That appeared to be a let-off for Liverpool, but they still hold the greater threat going forward

51

Marcus Bent's effort is ruled out for offside but Wigan look unlucky as Pennant appeared to be playing him on

48

Aurelio's cross from the left is blasted clear by Skoko

47

Liverpool will be looking for some goals in the second half after two consecutive 0-0 draws in their past two league games

Second half
 

The second 45 minutes gets underway

Half time
 

Level at the break, but Liverpool have had the better of the game with Torres the closest to breaking the deadlock

43

Aghahowa is caught offside and Wigan have offered little going forward so far

41

Wigan will be delighted to get to half-time with the game still at 0-0

38

Aurelio's latest cross is met by Scharner, who averts the danger

36

Kilbane clears Aurelio's corner as Liverpool threaten again

35

Wigan have frustrated Liverpool so far, defending well against Torres and co

32

Pennant strikes one wide now as Liverpool look for the breakthrough

31

Am ambitious overhead kick from Torres flies wide this time

30

That was the clearest chance of the afternoon so far as the visitors continue to dictate

29

Torres races clear and prods the ball past Kirkland after his initial shot is saved but the ball rolls just wide

26

Wigan look to break but Paul Scharner fouls Hyypia

24

Sami Hyypia goes down under a challenge but it's never a penalty before Torres fires straight at Kirkland - it's all Liverpool again

23

Riise finds a bit of space in the area but again his shot is well blocked by the Wigan defence and Liverpool win another corner

20

Josip Skoko's strike from distance is straight at Reina at the other end

18

Jermaine Pennant's shot is turned behind after striking Kevin Kilbane, John Arne Riise's corner for the visitors comes to nothing though

17

Liverpool are enjoying slightly more of the play but it remains goalless at Wigan

14

Kuyt finds Torres and the Spaniard finally gets a shot in but Boyce does well to block it

13

A string of free-kicks break up the flow of the game

10

The home side have regained their composure after a somewhat shaky start and it's very even so far at the JJB

9

Michael Brown gets a warning from the referee for a foul on Dirk Kuyt as Wigan enjoy more possession

7

Torres is caught offside, but the Wigan defenders are worried by his presence

5

Marcus Bent tries his luck from distance but it never really troubles Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal and flies wide

4

Liverpool have made the brighter start here, with Torres again looking sharp up front

2

Chris Kirkland is called into action early on, saving well from a Steven Gerrard free-kick

Kickoff
 

The action begins in this north-west derby at the JJB Stadium

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Fernando Torres retains his place in the Liverpool side after his midweek hat-trick while Fabio Aurelio makes his first start of the season, Wigan bring in Emmerson Boyce and Julius Aghahowa