LAST GASP KINGS

It was a pulsating game at Anfield, and the first thing to say is that Wigan were a little unlucky not to grab a draw.
They had the game's outstanding performer in Zaki, and ran rings round us in the first half when we looked perplexed with their movement and short passing game.
Their midfield in particular took Alonso and Gerrard to the cleaners and it was no surprise when they grabbed that 45 minute strike courtesy of the brilliant Egyptian to go in at the break 2-1 up.
We really missed Mascherano as he would have been responsible for breaking up their pretty patterns and winning the ball back which we consistently failed to do.
The blunder by Agger was a nightmare, and the Dane even had the temerity to admonish Reina for the pass played to him.
Hopefully, we can blame that on a bit of rustiness, and to be fair to the lad, he went up the field and laid one on a plate for Kuyt's opener to make amends.

Second half, we started to have a go, but Wigan still looked comfortable, and it was only when Valencia was dismissed that victory suddenly became an option.
Amongst our outfield players, only Kuyt and Riera deserved mention. Gerrard was strangely anonymous (his England exploits probably having an effect) and Alonso was steady, but essentially mediocre.
The performances from Dossena and Pennant stood out like sore thumb.
The Italian first, there is growing anxiety at Anfield that we have signed a player who is clearly not going to make the grade.
He was very poor to let the cross in for Zaki's second, and doesn't offer us the rampaging full back width we all hoped for.
Pennant similarly frustrated us, with a lacklustre insipid display when a good performance might have rubberstamped his name on the teamsheet for the next few games.
Granted, his ball for Kuyt's winner was good, but decent crosses were few and far between, he never demanded the ball, and seemed content checking back and passing the buck to a team mate on repeated occasions.
It said much that when he went down theatrically in the second half clutching his leg, sympathy from the Kop was not forthcoming.
I've read some stuff from fans saying the crowd were on his back from the start on Saturday, but you have to earn the right to be respected by Liverpool supporters.
Having the right attitude and working hard are some of the basics that should go without saying, and Pennant is yet to master those basics.

Onto the sending-off, which ultimately changed the course of the game.
I read with interest a Wigan fan's irate opinion of the game and the red card in the Obsever on Sunday, much of which I didn't agree with.
Firstly, the free kick on the edge of the box was a farce. Every Wigan player was stood about seven yards from the ball, refusing to step back.
Alan Wiley lost the plot and was incredibly weak in his handling off the situation. The booking was inevitable, and Valencia happened to be the one who the ref singled out.
That being done, it's a silly boy who then goes crashing into a player's ankle/lower shin a few minutes later in front of the ref's nose.
I didn't get a great view of it, but some people I've spoken to, who have since seen replays, tell me it's a nasty challenge that possibly even deserved a straight red.

You've got to admire they way we keep pulling it out of the fire, but these last gasp shows have got to come to an end somehow.
Somehow, I can't see Chelsea being quite so forgiving. Still, joint top of the league, things are going well. I'd take a draw next Sunday, particularly with Torres likely to be out.
As much as they look great at the moment, their opponents our giving them a criminal amount of space to play at the moment.
Touch wood, Liverpool aren't the sort of side who will make the same mistake.