Latics Land Huge Win

As captain Gary Caldwell exquisitely struck the winner, in front of the Kop end he breathed fire into his club’s fight for Premier League survival.

In what was a wonderful team performance the Latics dominated for long periods and they took the lead after half an hour, after Martin Skrtel struck the lively Victor Moses plum in the face, and Shaun Maloney did the honours from the spot.

Gary Caldwell

Roberto Martinez kept the belief in the starting XI that drew with West Brom last weekend and his rallying call during the week seemed to do the trick.

Chilean international Jean Beausejour was a constant threat all afternoon as he and Moses proved to be a handful for both Liverpool full backs, but as with on many occasions this season the end product was lacking.

This was until the usually reliable Skrtel lost his composure and raised his boot in the face of Moses, leaving Lee Mason with no other option but to point to the spot.

After a long wait as a result of the injury to Moses, (which was to eventually force him off) Maloney held his cool and sent the travelling Latics into delirium.

After the break the controversial Luis Suarez levelled things up after some great link up play with Steven Gerrard and it looked very much as if that would be that.

Suarez looked to have given the home side the lead with a header, but after some confusion he was adjudged to have impeded Caldwell.

This seemed to give the Latics the wakeup call they needed as Martinez marshalled the troops from the sideline and eventually his side regained their composure and control of the game.

The winner game after James McCarthy’s speculative strike caught the Liverpool backline out and Caldwell pounced as the ball fell to him and he struck the historical winner.

Shaun Maloney

Results elsewhere mean the Latics remain in the drop zone but are now within one point of Bolton in seventeenth and results elsewhere see Wolves cut adrift at the foot of the table.

After a string of encouraging performances this result will have pundits take note the Latics are well and truly up for the fight.

Next up it is Stoke City at home, in what is simply a must win game. Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal follow Saturday’s encounter and 3 points are a must.