New Delhi: A late penalty from Mido has seen Liverpool fall further off the pace in the Premier League title race as they drew at Wigan Athletic on Thursday evening.
The Reds dominated possession in the early stages but only fashioned the one chance, via Fernando Torres. The Euro 2008-winning striker glanced a header against the post, following a Steven Gerrard cross from the left.
The Latics had a chance to take the lead, when Daniel de Ridder's cross was met by Emerson Boyce, who contrived to put his free header off target.
It was then that Rafael Benitez's side kicked into gear, with Torres going close with another header and Ryan Babel forcing a good save from Wigan stopper Mike Pollitt.
Their pressure paid off before the break, when Javier Mascherano played through Yossi Benayoun, and though forced wide by Pollitt, the Israeli did exceptionally well to keep his balance and fire home a sweet strike past the 'keeper.
Gerrard threatened to put the game beyond the home side just before the break, but his free kick whistled wide of the goal.
The visitors continued to have the better of the game after the break, with Benayoun and captain Gerrard looking the most threatening, but Pollitt in the Wigan goal was not overly concerned.
Controversial substitutions followed from Liverpool, with Benitez withdrawing Torres for Albert Riera and following a late challenge from Lucas Leiva on Jason Koumas, Wigan new-boy Mido converted the penalty on debut to draw level the Latics.
With seven minutes of normal time remaining, Steven Gerrard - who had scored crucial goals in the double-header against Everton over the past week - was withdrawn for £18 million man Robbie Keane, but the Reds were unable to mount an attack of note.
The hosts in fact had the chance to win the game, with another new signing, Hugo Rodallega, striking the cross-bar with a free-kick.
Comments
0 comment