Dirk Does Good: Liverpool V Wigan

In a pulsating encounter which saw Liverpool return to joint top spot with Chelsea in the Premier League, Dirk Kuyt proved to be the match winner in a game which provided high drama after the home team again came from behind to secure victory in their continuing quest to bring a league title back to Anfield after a nineteen year absence.

Without the pace of the injured Torres up front to cause the visiting team constellations in defense, Wigan had a first 45 minutes that will surely rank amongst their best when the season comes to an end. Without Emile Heskey, side-lined after picking up a knock playing for England in midweek, Zaki, his Egyptian strike partner, gave a display which showed who is the senior member in this set-up. On the stroke of half-time, the incredibly lively forward who had earlier scored following a mix-up between goalkeeper and defender, pounced onto a crossed ball which was well and truly behind him. Whereas most individuals would have looked to lay off the difficult incoming ball, the in-form striker only had one thing on his mind; setting himself on his left foot, he swiveled and produced an astounding scissor-kick from close to the edge of the area which had Pepe Reina well and truly beaten as it sailed into the top of Liverpool net. As the half-time whistle echoed around the shocked ground there was a feeling if Wigan were able to maintain the intensity they brought to the half which had just ended the visiting team could hold onto a first ever victory over the home team.

But on 73 minutes that possible moment of history came to an end as Antonio Valencia got sent off for the second time in a week. Whether the first playing for Ecuador last weekend was justified or not, on this occasion the midfielder can only have himself to blame for picking up a second yellow card for a badly judged tackle on Alonso after picking up his first only minutes earlier for encroaching upon a Liverpool free-kick.

Again facing a team who were down to ten men and also ahead in the game, remarkably Dutchman Dirk Kuyt secured his reputation as match-winner repeating the feat as he had against Manchester City some two weeks ago. Earlier in the game scoring his first league goal in front of a home crowd since April 2007, his taste for another was quenched on the 84^th minute as he produced his own overhead kick which bounced just over Chris Kirkland’s outstretched hand as the ball squeezed just underneath the cross-bar.

Sandwiched between a first for Albert Riera since his move from Espanyol, this particular comeback marked the fifth time this season Liverpool have come from behind to gain victory. An astonishing fact bearing in mind one of those games have been against Manchester United, and two of those have been whilst playing away. Next weeks clash away to Chelsea is a game where those powers of recovery could well be stretched to the limit.