Reds rattled as Hugo hits top-four bid

Liverpool's bid to finish fourth suffered a blow as Wigan boosted their survival hopes with a hard-fought 1-0 win at the DW Stadium on Monday.

Rafael Benitez's side have picked up some plucky wins in recent weeks to rekindle hopes of claiming a Champions League spot for next season, but they slipped back to their old ways as a goal from Hugo Rodallega 10 minutes before the interval earned Latics their first-ever Premier League success over Liverpool.

The Reds made a bright start with Steven Gerrard seeing a shot fly over and Fernando Torres' volley from a tight angle crashing against the outside of Chris Kirkland's post.

But great work by Charles N'Zogbia almost handed Latics the lead when he turned his marker and flashed a low ball across goal which was narrowly missed by Marcelo Moreno in front of goal.

Wigan had relaid their DW Stadium pitch and the players were responding in a free-flowing game, with Yossi Benayoun showing good feet to create an opening for Gerrard which came to nothing.

But it was Latics who took the lead after 35 minutes when sloppy play by Dirk Kuyt was seized upon by Emmerson Boyce and his superb cross with the outside of his boot was sidefooted home from close range by Rodallega.

Liverpool did their best to hit back but Torres could not keep his header on target a couple of minutes before the interval following a good cross on the run from Maxi.

Wigan made a bright start to the second period with Javier Macherano blocking Rodallega's shot following James McCarthy's cross.

The Reds then brought on Glen Johnson to put an end to his three-month stint on the sidelines, but they were fortunate not to go 2-0 down just short of the hour mark when Jamie Carragher's clearance hit Moreno's heel and was looping in but for a saving header from virtually under the bar by Sortirios Kyrgiakos.

Boyce and N'Zogbia then tried their luck from distance, while Johnson did really well to track back and prevent Paul Scharner tapping in.

The Reds almost found a route back into the game with 14 minutes to go when Emiliano Insua's cross from headed back across goal by Kuyt, but Torres' acrobatically effort flew inches wide of the post.

But try as they might they found no way through and Latics hung on to inflict the Reds' ninth league defeat of a turbulent season.

The victory sees Wigan climb two places to 14th, while Liverpool stay sixth but have played two games more than fifth-placed Manchester City and one more than Tottenham who are currently fourth.

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