Dirk Kuyt once again came to Liverpool's rescue late in the game as they twice came back from a goal behind to snatch a 3-2 victory against 10 man Wigan Athletic side on Saturday.

Wigan looked on course for a famous victory when they took the lead through Amr Zaki on the half hour mark but Kuyt equalized for the hosts eight minutes later. The Egyptian striker scored a brilliant goal on the stroke of half time to once again put Wigan in the lead. However the visitors were reduced to 10 men after Antonio Valencia was shown a second yellow card in the 74th minute and Liverpool made full use of their numerical superiority to first equalize through Alberto Riera before Kuyt scored the winner 5 minutes from full time.

With Fernando Torres out injured, Liverpool looked woefully short of ideas upfront as Wigan dominated the chances in the first half with Zaki in full flow at the other end. Oliver Kapo showed a glimpse of things to come early in the game as he tested Pepe Reina with a low shot which was saved comfortably by the Liverpool keeper.

However he had no answer to Wigan's first goal in the 29th minute when Zaki snatched the ball from Daniel Agger inside the Liverpool penalty area before slotting the ball to put his side in the lead.

The hosts stepped up the pressure and equalized in the 37th minute when Agger's driving run found him in the Wigan penalty area on the left flank and the Danish defender crossed the ball for Kuyt to smash home from near the edge of the area. However Zaki restore Wigan's lead on the stroke of half time with a brilliant scissor kick that flew past Reina and into the bottom corner at the far post.

Liverpool tried to step up the tempo in the second half but were struggling to create any chances before they were handed a great advantage in the 74^th minute when referee Alan Wiley booked Valencia for a second time after he fouled Xabi Alonso.

The hosts immediately poured forward and were rewarded six minutes later when Nabil El Zhar crossed the ball for Riera who coolly slotted the ball past Kirkland from outside the penalty area to score his first goal for Liverpool.

Liverpool completed the come back five minutes later when Pennant’s searching cross inside the penalty area was smashed home past Kirkland by Kuyt to help his side remain in touch with Chelsea at the top of the league table.