The Reds made the short journey down the M58 to Wigan and played out a nil nil draw in a game that they should have won. All eyes were on Luis Suarez before the game in light of his pending eight game ban for which he is likely to appeal. The Reds players got out right behind Suarez - warming up in Suarez t-shirts and that included manager Kenny Dalglish. What happens next with the case is anyone's guess but until then we have Luis in the side.
There were two changes in the side with Kuyt and Maxi replacing Shelvey and Bellamy to start the game.
Wigan got the game started but the Reds were out of the traps fast and putting all kinds of pressure on to the Wigan back line. It was all Reds pressure as they won every loose ball and looked to probe forward.
It was just a case of trying to get that clear chance. On eight minutes Henderson shot on goal after a pull back from Downing but it was too easy for keeper Al-Habsi.
Wigan were looking rattled by our fast start to the game and this is where you need to make it count really. They did have half a chance on eleven minutes but as Gomez shot Reina saved as the whistle was blowing for a foul and a free kick to the Reds.
On fifteen minutes Victor Moses can think himself lucky not to get a yellow card as he dived across Skrtel's leg. The Ref was in a perfect position to see the leg being pulled away from the player and for me it was a dive - Skrtel certainly did and told Moses as much.
After such a fast start to the game it slowly settled down and Wigan had a couple of chances midway through the half as as the gap between defence and midfield was massively exposed. First Diame went in between and sent a shot just wide from thirty yards and a minute later Gomez shot over the bar - again from the gap.
At the other end Maxi and Downing linked up well together which resulted in a cross from Downing and Kuyt looked sure to score but picked the one place of the goal he didn't want - namely the keeper who pushed it out for a corner. From the corner kick it was flighted in and knocked down in the box but Agger didn't get over hos volley enough and sent it over the bar.
On twenty six minutes Maxi and Johnson exchanged passes which set Johnson in on goal but his shot was far too close to the keeper and he saved it. A couple of minutes later and Adam sent a shot in from distance but Al-Habsi held on - Suarez was waiting for any rebound but it didn't come.
Wigan had a spell though towards the end of the half when they got right in to it. Moses nearly ran the length of the pitch to score when he robbed Johnson but his eventual shot from the edge of the box was punched clear by Reina.
As the half ended it was Wigan who were looking the better side but the Reds should already have been out of sight for me although we were making it to easy for their keeper when we did shoot.
The second half got underway with no changes on either side and the Reds started fast again. Two minutes in and Suarez had a chance with a free kick but it was pushed wide by the keeper.
Just four minutes in to the half and the Reds were presented with the perfect chance to score as the ref awarded a penalty. Luis Suarez saw hos overhead kick in the box blocked by Caldwell's hand and the ref had no choice - even the defender couldn't argue.
There was confusion near the box then as Suarez clearly asked to take it but Charlie Adam was having none of it and claimed responsibility. In hindsight perhaps Luis should have had a go but that's only because Adam saw his spot kick palmed away by Al-Habsi who went the right way and it was just low enough for him to reach.
That miss seemed to stun the Reds a little and the game went in to a closer encounter for a bit. I think had we scored the penalty we'd have won the game in the end.
Wigan made the first change just after the hour mark when Di Santo replaced Sammon up front. The first booking came a few minutes later when Caldwell went through the back of Suarez and they're yellows all day long these days.
From that free kick it was looped over the defence and as it dropped in the box Kuyt was there but with the ball dropping over his shoulder he couldn't direct his shot on target. It was a hard chance in fairness to him but full marks for the invention.
We made a couple of changes on seventy two minutes with Bellamy and Shelvey replacing Maxi and Kuyt respectively. A minute later Wigan reacted by sending on Watson and Rodallega for Jones and Gomez.
Glen Johnson picked up a needless yellow card on seventy eight minutes when he stupidly tried to prevent a throw in by wrapping hos foot around the Wigan man. He was never going to to get the ball and it was all but out anyway.
As the clock ticked down the game became really stretched and worryingly either side could have scored. On eighty five minutes a great cross to the back post nearly allowed Rodallega to score - thankfully Johnson managed to head out for a corner through as he put pressure on.
Andy Carroll was sent on for the final minutes in place of Suarez. It didn't give the striker much time to get in to the game though.
Pepe Reina was out superbly well with two minutes to go as he was a sweeper although he almost made a hash of it which forty yards from his open goal could have proved costly.
Craig Bellamy picked up a stupid yellow card in stoppage time - presumably for dissent as he inevitably disagreed with a decision against him.
The Reds tried to heap on the pressure in the stoppage allowance and Shelvey managed to get a shot away but it was easily saved. Sadly that was all a bit late and the final whistle blew to give the Reds a point - the first time no goals have been scored between the two sides.
Overall I think we did enough to win the game but we have to start being ruthless. Penalties should never be missed in my book so that's one bit but I just don't think we made the keeper work hard enough. Wigan were organised as a side but they were certainly beatable and that's were we aren't clinical enough.
MotM : Martin Skrtel - consistent all night and saved the Reds a few times at the back whilst trying to aid the Reds attack when he could.
