Dirk Kuyt scored a brace, including a dramatic scissor kick winner with just five minutes to go, to see off Steve Bruce’s plucky side.

Albert Riera scored his his first goal on a day when Wigan’s Amr Zaki caused havoc in the Reds defence with a fine brace.

The game’s other flashpoint came on 74 minutes when Antonio Valencia received a second yellow for a late tackle on Xabi Alonso.

Benitez’s men now go into next weekend’s top of the table clash at Stamford Bridge level on points with Chelsea, who beat Middlesbrough 5-0.

Wigan’s reputation as a brutish side masks the fact that, under Bruce, they play without fear or worry regardless of the opposition. The addition of the Egyptian Zaki has added a touch of class which means they don’t always have to park a metaphorical bus.

And so it was today, when for 80 minutes they held their own against a Liverpool side enjoying their equal best start to a Premier League campaign.

It took an expert tackle from Jamie Carragher in the home box to thwart the visitors with less than five minutes on the clock, while Olivier Kapo forced a smart save from Pepe Reina midway inside the first half.

As the drizzle swept across Anfield, the hosts were restricted to a long range effort from Alonso and a solitary one-on-one for Robbie Keane after a sublime throughball from Riera. Sadly, the Irishman could only dink wide with the outside of his right boot.

Shortly after, with 29 minutes on the Anfield scoreboard, Wigan’s endeavour paid dividends, albeit in fortunate circumstances when Agger, making his first league start for 13 months, was too presumptuous in collecting Reina’s short pass.

If there was one player he didn’t want to see on his shoulder ready to pounce on any loose control it was Wigan’s lucky number 13, Zaki, who stole a march on the Dane before slotting past Reina.

If Liverpool were to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign, they’d have to come from behind for fifth time this season.

No problem. It took just eight minutes for the Reds to draw level with a goal scored by Kuyt but created almost entirely by the seemingly redeemed Agger.

There looked to be little on when the centre-back embarked on one of his trademark surges forward, but a neat ball from Riera saw him gain possession in the box, where a canny piece of skill created enough space to deliver a low cross to Kuyt, whose bumbled shot found its way beyond Chris Kirkland.

The goal was Kuyt’s third in consecutive games, a feat not previously achieved since he arrived from the De Kuip Stadium in 2006.

Liverpool almost took the lead twice before Alan Wiley called time on the opening period, first when Kuyt thundered a long-range shot against the crossbar, then when Riera glanced a header across the face of goal from a Jermaine Pennant cross.

Then, just as it seemed Gerrard and co were in the ascendency, Anfield was stunned by a goal of the month certainty. We were two minutes into injury time when the highly-rated Valencia swept in a cross which Zaki hit acrobatically home.

The second period began promisingly enough when an Alonso floater was met by the head of Agger only for Lee Cattermole to clear off the line.

Next Kuyt missed a golden opportunity to level, hitting straight at Kirkland from six yards after a Keane cross.

Liverpool were starting to ask serious questions, though it wasn’t yet all out attack from the Premier League’s comeback kings.

Gerrard came close with a 20-yard free-kick which took an age to take due to squabbling over the proximity of Wigan’s wall.

The home cause was aided somewhat on 74 minutes when referee Wiley flashed a second yellow at Valencia for a clumsy challenge on Alonso, making him the third player to be sent off for a tackle on the Spaniard in as many league games.

Benitez, meanwhile, introduced Yossi Benayoun and Nabil El Zhar, the latter having been praised for his contribution to that late, late comeback against Middlesbrough earlier in the campaign.

Incredibly, the young Moroccan again made an instant impact from the bench, cutting back for Riera to slam home from 20 yards with 10 minutes remaining.

Surely Liverpool couldn’t do it again? Yes they could.

Gerrard, Torres and Carragher have all made heroes of themselves in recent months with last-gasp goals. This time it was Kuyt who took the glory, firing a Pennant delivery against the ground and into the top corner on 85 minutes.

A player who two weeks ago hadn’t scored a league goal in 11 months now had three in two games.

Ian St John, sat in the Anfield press box for this one, doubtless got a text from his old mate Jimmy Greaves.

Yes, Jimmy, it is a funny old game, he might have replied.

European football’s governing body had ordered Atletico to play their next two matches away from the Vicente Calderon Stadium after crowd trouble.

That meant the Liverpool game would have been held at a neutral venue at least 200 miles from Madrid.

But the decision has been overturned after an appeal by Atletico.

Uefa’s initial decision led to vociferous criticism from thousands of Liverpool fans, unhappy over the late notice Europe’s governing body had given them.

Uefa says it wants to make the welfare of the English club’s supporters its number one priority and has put the ban on hold so that the match goes ahead at the Vicente Calderon stadium.

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry immediately expressed his satisfaction that Uefa had listened to the club’s concerns.

Parry told the club’s website: “We’re delighted at the decision because it means our fans can travel to the game as previously planned without additional expense or inconvenience.

“Liverpool are grateful for the help the FA have provided and pleased Uefa have listened to and acted on the arguments we put forward this week.”

The ban followed the treatment of Marseille fans during and after Atletico’s 2-1 victory on 1 October.
Monkey chants were aimed at the French club’s players, while the Marseille team bus was attacked after the match.

There were also outbreaks of violence between Marseille fans and Spanish police, as well as accusations from Marseille officials and players that they had been racially abused by Atletico fans.

Atletico have denied all claims of racism, insisting that Uefa officials confused chants of “Kun, Kun, Kun” - in support of the club’s striker Sergio Aguero - with monkey cries.

Atletico had also been fined a record 150,000 euros by Uefa, while the punishment could be extended to a third home match should there be further trouble at the club within five years.

The Spanish club’s coach Javier Aguirre has been punished for abusing a Marseille player.

He has been banned from the sidelines, the tunnel, and the dressing room, and is forbidden from communicating with his team, during the matches against Liverpool on 22 October and at Anfield on 4 November.

Atletico hope video evidence will show there were no insults of a racist or xenophobic nature directed at any Marseille player.

The club says its supporters have no prior record of such behaviour and that, in relation to Aguirre’s ban, the coach did not hurl insults at any Marseille player.

Both men had been due to face Atletico Madrid at the stadium in the Champions League next Wednesday, but that now looks unlikely after UEFA hit them with a two-game stadium ban this morning.

Torres scored over 80 goals for the Spanish club between 2001 and 2007, while Reina’s father Miguel Reina Santos also turned out for them between the sticks in the Seventies.

Atletico have until noon on Friday to appeal against the ban, which came as a result of being charged with a lack of organisation during the Marseille match on October 1 and for the improper conduct of their supporters.

But Torres, who is currently on international duty with Spain in Belgium, admitted he hadn’t taken the news well and said: “After so much time waiting, it is the worst and most unexpected news that I could have heard this morning.

“I’m eager to go back. I don’t know if it is definitive, I hope that a solution can be found.

“It is a shame that these incidents have forced the stadium to be closed, but if this is what happens then we have to accept it.”

The Spanish club have also been fined a record 150,000 euros (£120,000), while the punishment could be extended to a third home match if there is any further trouble at the club within five years.

Torres’ teammate for club and country Pepe Reina added: “It’s a huge blow for all the Spanish players at Liverpool. Above all for Fernando, who was the most eager of all of us to visit the Calderon.

“As well as that, we all had commitments, tickets agreed, and this changes all the plans.”

After all the criticism that has been thrown at our captain over the last week it is great to hear someone talking sense about our inspirational captain.

The pair famously went head to head in the 2001 FA Cup final, after which Gerrard admitted he came out second best.

Seven years on, however, Vieira believes there isn’t a midfielder on the planet who could boss Liverpool’s number eight.

The Inter Milan star said: “The best midfielder I would say is Steven Gerrard. I really rate him as a player and as a man. I think he is still one of the best.

“Cesc Fabregas has the potential to be the best. I think he is learning every year. Now he is a top quality player. He is one of the best. In the years to come he can be at the top.”

Kuyt scored his first league goal since last November against Man City last week, but the gaffer doesn’t measure his Dutch forward’s contribution in goals.

Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv “His teamwork is amazing,”. “When you talk about a team, that’s the most important thing.

“Players like Kuyt are the key to successful sides. You can use the quality of people like Fernando Torres or Steven Gerrard, but you always need players who work really hard.

“If you have players with offensive mentality, you need players who can do the ugly jobs. You need to work hard in defence. As a striker, Kuyt is doing his defensive work very well and also scoring important goals.”

While Kuyt has struggled to find the net in the Premier League, his Champions League record is an impressive 10 in 27 games.

Benitez added: “He was scoring goals in the Champions League and now he’s scored in the league. I think it was important for him and in the end it was important for us too.

“Everyone, especially all his teammates, will be really pleased for him because it is amazing how he works every day, every training session and every game.”

Liverpools vice-captain points to the way 10-man Liverpool launched a last-minute smash and grab on Man City as proof they now have the killer instinct to be contenders.

The result against Man City sealed our best ever start to a Premier League campaign but, despite recognising positive signs, Carragher is keen to keep things in perspective.

“We scored the winning goal after Martin Skrtel went off and it was 10 v 10,” said the vice-captain. “We had no centre-back, it was just me.

“We could easily have dropped Xabi Alonso back but a few lads said, ‘No, we’ll keep men forward and go for it. We’re aware, now, you’ve got to go for wins in this league. Draws kill you.

“People should stop saying we’ve made a great start, though. I’m thinking, ‘We’ve only played seven games and we’re Liverpool. Shouldn’t we be up there? Am I missing something?’ We’re not Hull. If we’re still up there in March we can talk about it, until then focus on doing our best in every game. Actions speak louder than words.”

Meanwhile, Carragher has revealed some of the defensive secrets which have helped Pepe Reina win the Golden Glove award for most Premier League clean sheets three times.

“Rafa has taken defence to another level,” said the centre-back. “He goes into every detail, tiny little things like body positions, how to react when the opposition use different formations. Basically, he’s trying to copy the AC Milan of Franco Baresi.

“He can change systems five times in a game. In Robbie Keane’s first match he ended up on the left wing because Rafa noticed something about Lazio which made him want three in the middle – and that was just a friendly.”

Liverpool’s Spanish striker is among several of the world’s best players up for the award, including Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Manchester United’s ultimate faggot Ronaldo.

But Torres insists he thought the Ballon d’Or was for players “from another galaxy” and that winning the title would be like “climbing to the top of Everest and touching the sky”.

He said: “When I have watched the Ballon d’Or presentation on television I saw the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho and Kaka.

“I told myself that trophy was for players from another galaxy - now I am among the candidates, and I cannot believe it.

“Winning the award would be like climbing to the top of Everest and touching the sky.”

After scoring 33 goals in his debut season at Anfield, Torres said his form has been down to how well he has settled.

He added: “I am at ease in England. I wanted to play there so strongly, to discover the Premier League.

“At Liverpool I have started a second life. It is great.”

Torres also strengthened his claims with the starring role he played as Spain won Euro 2008, scoring the winning goal in the final against Germany.

Martin Skrtel now faces up to three months in the physio room after suffering knee ligament damage at Manchester City last weekend - and Thompson insists whoever gets the call to replace him will have a tough job to replicate the form of the Slovakian stopper.

“I just love Skrtel,” said Thompson. “He has made a real impression at the club. People talk about Fernando Torres, but this lad could be a real gem.

“It’s how he plays the game which impresses me. No matter if we’re playing Stoke City or Manchester United, he gives everything he has in terms of commitment and passion.

“He’s good in the air, quick, strong and he doesn’t hold any of his opponents in high esteem. He is there to win for the club and I think our fans have tapped into that.”

Either Daniel Agger or Sami Hyypia seem set to receive the call to replace Skrtel when domestic action resumes next weekend - and Thompson is confident the winner of that battle will rise to the challenge.

“Whoever comes in will know they are replacing someone special who has built up a great understanding with Jamie Carragher,” he added.

“Sami Hyypia reads the game better than anybody at the club. He’s never been the quickest, but he’s been blessed with the ability to read football matches. In that respect he’s as good as Alan Hansen was.

“Daniel Agger is quicker with great ability and can step out and play good football.

“At the end of the day though you have to defend and that is why Jamie Carragher has been such a dominant figure in the team for such a long time.”

Parry dismissed any suggestions that Liverpool would consider a ground share with Everton to speed up the process.

He told BBC Sport: “It is a case of a delay while things settle down. It’s still a good long-term project.
“With the financial markets in turmoil, any major construction project at this time is difficult, it is risky.”
With some commentators predicting that the economic downturn could continue for a year or two it is unclear when Liverpool will begin work on the stadium, which was expected to be finished by August 2011.

However, Parry told Radio 5 Live’s Sportsweek programme that a ground share with Merseyside rivals Everton, who are planning on building a new stadium in Kirkby, was “not being considered”.

“I do not see any change in direction or any change in plans, and ground share is not back on the agenda,” he added.

“The point is, at this moment it is not the most sensible time to be borrowing huge amounts of money with the markets in turmoil. That will settle down and availability of money will increase.

“The project makes long-term sense, it is the supply of money that is an issue - that will correct itself in time.”

Reports in the summer had suggested Liverpool’s American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett were struggling to raise funds for the next stage of the project, with a Liverpool spokesman saying the project had been “affected by global market conditions”.

Liverpool’s plans for their new home, which was expected to have a 60,000 capacity, were approved by the city council in May and the enabling work has already started in and around Stanley Park.

The latest delay could further antagonise some of the Liverpool supporters who have become increasingly frustrated by the way the club is being run. The Spirit of Shankly group organised a march in protest against Hicks and Gillett before the recent 2-1 victory at home to Manchester United.

During the summer Gillett had spoken about how the relationship between himself and Hicks had become “unworkable”, before saying in June that communication had “substantially improved”.

Liverpool’s stadium plans appear to have been hit by the credit crunch
Parry said that a takeover of the club was unlikely to happen in the near future.

“It has gone quiet and everyone is delighted,” he said. “The focus at Liverpool should only ever be on football.

“All is relatively stable, I am not aware of anything that is happening regarding the sale of the club at this moment. My focus is on day-to-day things and making sure we deliver.

“I am not sure of anything going on, it is a question best directed to the owners. As far as I am concerned we are focusing on things that we can control.

“We are trying to do the very best to produce a team that performs on the pitch.”