Liverpool F.C. transcends. Drama, romanticism, ecstasy, despair, joy and sadness, they have all been in Liverpool’s grasp. And the latest phenomenon now is that of déjà vu. You head into half-time trailing down to a goal with stoppage time just running out. And it’s a wonder goal. One of them that you just got to put your hands up and accept as the execution has been lethal. A slow start, a calamitous mistake at the back and two goals down with just one response. We have been used to swerving it, accelerating at the very end and overtaking anything in front of us, but finally this might be one treacherous corner too far that see us, getting off the track and hitting a brick wall. Seeing Steve Bruce in their dug out does not help morale either. Especially at Anfield. That magical night at Saint Andrews feel decades ago, albeit the relative proximity. Poor first half’s are becoming the norm, where in the previous seven Premiership matches, only one goal has been scored, and it was an own goal.

As the international break left its mark on Liverpool’s playing resources, Rafa was forced to call a few changes. Jermaine Pennant found his name in the starting line-up for the first time in the Premiership, Dirk Kuyt moved upfront to partner Robbie Keane while Daniel Agger as expected partnered Jamie Carragher at the heart of defence after Martin Skrtel’s injury. A rather too casual or maybe plain inattentive Agger gifted Zaki a glorious chance which he didn’t waste but soon he redeemed himself for that mistake. Comfortable on the ball, he ran three-quarters of the length of the pitch, played a one-two with Andrei Dossena, then just went into their penalty area, slalomed past a defender and just laid a perfect pass to Kuyt with the latter simply obliging. Along Agger’s atonement it was a reminder that Kuyt in a striking position can be lethal as well, and his repositioning on the wing is surely not a relegation but an attribute of his self-less work he contributes to the team. He would later score the winner in dramatic circumstances as he scissor-kicked a Pennant cross which even though didn’t have the cleanness and precision of the earlier Zaki’s volley as it bounced off the ground and scrambled over the line through the crossbar it had a deadlier say on the final result. Early in the first half, shortly after his first goal, only bad luck eluded him from a top-notch goal as from outside the penalty area he just shot a screamer with the crossbar screaming back in agony with Chris Kirkland well beaten and the ball ending up in a throw-in such was the viciousness of the shot.

In between, it was Albert Riera’s turn to get what he deserves and get on the score-sheet for the first time. He has been consistently producing the goods for Liverpool, giving another dimension and widening their play, whilst his hard work and tackles never went amiss. With the clock ticking down, and with signs that this day was not meant to be Liverpool’s, Riera coolly and cleanly placed the ball into the corner of the net eluding a whole debris of Wigan legs.

I was hoping that finally this day would be the time when Liverpool assert themselves from the beginning and march towards another three points unscathed as possible. It was not meant to be and some might be yearning for that flawless and assertion of supremacy from start to finish as was the case against PSV in the Champions League. It might be apt though to remind that this side might be new in challenging for titles and a ragged approach has to be accepted. After days like this though it’s like looking forward for middle age sobriety after a few consecutive nights of revelry.