Ngog 9         N’Zogbia 90 + 2

                                                                                              Torres 79

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres came off the bench to grab what proved to be the crucial goal in this narrow win for Rafa Benitez’s men.

As has happened to their considerable cost this season, the Reds conceded in second-half stoppage time. And they were fortunate that Wigan striker Jason Scotland contrived to hit the crossbar of a virtually open goal with the score still 1-0.

But the Spanish international forward’s goal had given Liverpool breathing space and was an appropriate winner for a match between two sides managed by Spaniards.

Roberto Martinez’s men have long recovered from their 9-1 mauling at Tottenham just over three weeks ago.

However, Liverpool created enough chances to give their fragile confidence a bigger boost than it ultimately received.

David Ngog and Dirk Kuyt both saw efforts blocked in an early goalmouth scramble before Ngog rose above Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland to head home Fabio Aurelio’s cross from the left on nine minutes.

And the two strikers had Liverpool’s best subsequent first-half efforts, Kirkland saving well from Kuyt on 16 minutes and Ngog narrowly wide with a left-foot shot across the face of goal shortly before the break.

Wigan had occasionally threatened, with Paul Scharner heading an excellent chance straight at Pepe Reina immediately after Ngog’s goal.

And Jason Scotland hinted at why he awaits his first EPL goal with his glaring miss on 73 minutes as the ball fell to him just six yards out.

By this stage, Torres had replaced Ngog. And with eleven minutes left he latched onto Steven Gerrard’s flick from a Jamie Carragher punt out of defence to round Kirkland and scramble the ball home at the second attempt past a despairing Titus Bramble.

Liverpool’s customary late concession came when N’Zogbia fired home from 15 yards with his left-foot, two minutes into stoppage time. But it was too late even for Liverpool to throw this one away.