Blogging Returns, Wigan Take A Point

Fernando Torres I’m back after an internetless Christmas break (almost two weeks) in which Liverpool have disappointed a bit and let their hold on league leaders Arsenal slip further away.

Tonight, Liverpool had the task of hosting Wigan in a late kick off and it’s finished a 1-1, Torres opening the scoring early in the second half with the help of Stevens’ Finnan and Gerrard before Titus Bramble bagged a leveller for Steve Bruce’s side with ten minutes to go.

The win is the first time that Wigan have taken a point against Liverpool and any one of the top four Premier League sides and leaves us 12 points off the lead with just a single game in hand.

Poor defending gifted Bramble the opportunity to level the scores late in the game with Sami Hyypia again missing from the defence, along with Daniel Agger whose return at this stage can’t come quick enough.

The first half of the game was reasonable enough, a few chances for both sides but nothing major and the break of the game welcome on arrival. Whatever was said at half time did the trick in the opening minutes of the second half, Torres laying off to Gerrard who hooked up with Steve Finnan, returning the ball for Torres to fire home for his 16th of the season. Next thing you know, it’s the 80 minute mark and Titus Bramble is free on the edge of the box to rifle home Steven Gerrard’s clearance. Disaster.

The introduction of Kuyt and / or Crouch should have come earlier in the game than it did, preferably straight after the first goal with a chance to move on for a second but in the end there wasn’t enough time to get any chance together to redeem the game.

So much for a bright start to the New Year.

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