Premier League: Liverpool 1 Wigan 2

Wigan earned their first victory at Anfield thanks to a hard-earned 2-1 win over Liverpool after goals from Shaun Maloney and Gary Caldwell.

The first half was initially a cagey affair, and possession was largely dominated by the home side.

However, they found themselves frustrated by a sturdy Wigan defence, and it was the away side who took the lead after they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Martin Skrtel on Victor Moses.

Maloney stepped up for the visitors and put it away to give them a 1-0 lead, which they held on to until half-time.

By contrast, the second half begun with an instant equaliser for Liverpool thanks to a good finish by Luis Suarez from a Steven Gerrard cross. However, the Uruguayan then had a goal disallowed after punching the ball over the line.

But after a superb finish by central defender Caldwell, the away side took the lead again and held on for a famous victory.

It was a positive start by Wigan, who looked enterprising and were keeping the home side pinned in their own half in the opening few minutes, as the Reds struggled to keep hold of possession. Any breaks forward by Liverpool were well contained, with Jean Beausejour in particular impressing in the opening 10 minutes for Wigan.

As the half wore on, Liverpool began to dominate possession far more, with captain Steven Gerrard beginning to grow into the game in the centre of midfield.

However, Wigan were defending stoutly and keeping the ball well to frustrate their opponents and silence their vociferous home support.

Liverpool found their best chance in the 24th minute after some superb build-up play around the Wigan penalty area. A cheeky flick by Suarez played in Stewart Downing unmarked in the box, but his shot flashed across the face of goal when he should probably have hit the target.

Within seconds, Wigan had a free-kick and after some confusion in the home side’s penalty area, the dangerous Moses received a boot in the face from Skrtel, and referee Lee Mason awarded a penalty.

Without regular penalty-taker Hugo Rodallega, Maloney stepped up and placed the ball into the net superbly, giving Wigan a 1-0 lead.

The second half began with Andy Carroll being brought on for Liverpool in place of Jordan Henderson, and the home side immediately found an equaliser. Gerrard played a superb ball into the box, and it was tucked away by Suarez to bring the scores level at 1-1.

Suarez was back in the action a few minutes later, as after a great deal of congestion in the Wigan penalty area, he managed to bundle the ball home from close-range. However, to the fury of the Liverpool bench, the goal was disallowed and Suarez was booked after punching the ball over the line with his hand.

After few chances in the following minutes, Wigan made a break forward in the 63rd minute, and after selling Carroll a superb dummy, central defender Caldwell found himself in acres of space in the penalty area and finished coolly past Liverpool’s Jose Reina to give the Latics the lead again.

This gave the away side a much-needed lift, and breathed new confidence into their play.

Frustration then began to creep into Liverpool’s play as they struggled to break down the Wigan defence.

However, despite a free kick in the 83rd minute just outside the penalty area that went straight into the wall, the home side were unable to create any clear chances and were condemned to a second straight Premier League defeat.