Last night was a horror show for the Reds, as a dreadful performance left their Champions League hopes hanging from a string. Liverpool failed to control a game they were expected to win, and this cost them dearly, as Wigan's dominance tested the Reds backline and eventually led to Rodallega tapping home a winner from close range, to condemn the Reds to their 9 defeat of the season, with 7 of those coming on the road.
Javier Mascherano's performance in the right back position was the only positive to come out of what was a miserable night for Liverpool. Masch sped up and down the right wing, and looked dangerous in attack whilst remaining defensively solid, and should be a better back up right back than Jamie Carragher, who returned to his favoured role at centre back.
Rafa Benitez, even when we lose, almost always claims that his team "controlled the game", yet even he was unable to say this last night as Wigan dominated the game in the middle of the park. Gerrard was anonymous once again, and Torres' finishing was dreadful for a stiker of his quality, but he can be excused as he is still nowhere near match fit.
Liverpool started the game with a few chances which, if they had been taken, could have shaped a different outcome to this vital clash. Gerrard wasted the Reds first opportunity as he blasted high and wide from 25 yards out, after Mascherano's cross had been cleared to the edge of the 18 yard box.
On 8 minutes Liverpool squandered their best chance of the match. Gerrard's corner was headed out to the edge of the box, where Lucas met the ball and headed it to Torres, who's shot skimmed the post and went behind for a goal kick. It was a great chance as the Spanish striker had a lot of space to strike the ball home, however his poor shot failed to test ex Red Chris Kirkland, who was in goal for the home side.
After this, former Newcastle player, Charles N'Zogbia, whipped a dangerous centre across the face of the goalmouth. Any touch would have sent the ball into the net but, thankfully for the Redmen, no one managed to connect and the game remained goalless.
Charles N'Zogbia was made to look like Christiano Ronaldo last night as he terrorized young left back Emiliano Insua, who put in yet another shocking performance against low grade opponents, similar to the game he had against Reading's Jobi McAnuff, who was also made to look like a world-beater thanks to a disappointing display from the inexperienced Argentine.
Don't get me wrong, on the whole i think Insua is a terrific young player with bags of potential, however i believe that he needs a rest at the moment, as he isn't use to playing so much football at such a high level. Unfortunately he will not be granted this rest, as Fabio Aurelio is plauged with injuries.
Rodallega shot over the bar from a free kick on the edge of the box, before Steven Gerrard wasted a brilliant chance on the half hour. Maxi Rodriguez played a pass to Kuyt, who then set Benayoun free in the box. Yossi skillfully played the ball past Figueroa before squaring the ball to our captain. Stevie slipped up when controlling the ball, but managed to pick himself up, however his left footed shot was scuffed agonisingly wide from only 6 yards out, and with the keeper already beaten, it was an embarrasing miss from the Reds number 8.
Wigan's dominance in the midfield paid off on 35 minutes as they deservedly took the lead. Dirk Kuyt somehow found himself in the left back position, and, as he tried to play the ball back to Lucas, N'Zogbia managed to steal possession, turn, then place a wonderful cross with the outside of his right foot right into the path of Rodallega, who made no mistake from 6 yards out, tapping the ball past Pepe Reina.
Minutes before half time Torres headed over the bar when he probably should have scored, causing Liverpool to head into the break 1-0 behind, and needing a significant improvement if they were to get anything from this frustrating match.
You would have thought that Liverpool came out for the second half desperate to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and transform their fortunes, however this wasn't the case, as Wigan started the second half brightly, denying Liverpool the opportunity to place them under any sustained spell of pressure.
On the hour Wigan should have doubled their lead as some poor decision making from the Reds backline nearly cost them dear. A long punt up the field reached the edge of the Liverpool box. Pepe Reina came out to try and collect the ball, however he missed it and it ran through to Marcelo Moreno, who tried to lob the ball into the net from a difficult angle. The ball was going in until Sotorios Kyrgiakos, who was returning from suspension, headed the ball off the line. From the resultant corner the home side went close again, as Moreno, who was becoming increasingly involved in Wigan's attacking play, headed just over the bar.
Liverpool continued to struggle to create anything in attack, and looked vunerable when the Latics pushed forward. With 17 minutes remaining the home side almost inflicted the killer blow, as Scharner nearly slid onto a ball from the right hand side, but he couldn't tap the ball home, due to Kyrgiakos putting him under pressure with a sliding tackle.
2 minutes later Liverpool should have been back on level terms, and they would have been, if Fernando Torres had been fully fit and firing on all cylinders. Unfortunately he wasn't, as he missed a tremendous opportunity, shooting wide from 6 yards out after Dirk Kuyt had headed Maxi's cross down to Torres' feet.
By this point most Liverpool supporters knew it just wasn't going to be our night, as yet another away horror show cost Liverpool further ground in the race for 4th spot. Rodallega had a great chance to compound the Reds misery, as he took possession off Ryan Babel, however he shot high and wide, when he only had one more defender to beat.
Liverpool are really struggling on the road this season. Last season's terrific away form, which yielded an impressive 13 victories and only 2 loses, has not been replicated this year, with Liverpool finding it hard to score goals away from their Anfield fortress, as a result of injuries to key forward thinking players, like Torres, Johnson and Benayoun.
Hopefully this shocking display can be the kick up the backside the players need, and lead to a turn-around in fortunes, starting with the Europa League clash in Lille on Thursday. One thing that is certain is that Liverpool can kiss goodbye to next season's Champions League if they perform anywhere near as badly as they did last night again.
YNWA
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