English Premier League/ Liverpool 1 Wigan Athletic 1: Anfield could not disguise its mirth when the Wigan hordes sang "There's only one Titus Bramble" last night. The laughter ended when the centre-half whose name has become a byword for defensive calamity left Liverpool as cold as the Siberian air blowing across Merseyside.

Rafael Benitez's side had been comfortable if far from convincing against Steve Bruce's strugglers, and appeared thankful for the latest pivotal contribution from the outstanding Fernando Torres as his 16th goal of the campaign left them in sight of an uplifting return of 10 points from 12 over the festive period.

Then, with only 10 minutes remaining, and from a hash of a clearance from Steven Gerrard, Bramble drove a stunning finish beyond Jose Reina and Liverpool's fragile title aspirations were placed into cold perspective once again.

This was not the result Benitez needed to usher in a new year that has potentially major ramifications for his Anfield future and his disgusted reaction to Wigan's equaliser confirmed as much. Liverpool now trail leaders Arsenal by 12 points.

Benitez sought adventure in a three-pronged attack, his thinking perhaps shaped by Bruce's last visit to Anfield. Back in September the then Birmingham manager did not disguise his ambition to leave Merseyside with a point, a target he achieved through a goalless draw - aided by Benitez's decision to put Fernando Torres on the bench - and the Wigan game-plan was not radically altered last night. Jason Koumas's role among the substitutes, with Michael Brown's tenacity preferred to the Welsh international playmaker, emphasised that point.

In fairness to Bruce pragmatism is not a sin in Wigan's predicament and the chants of both sets of supporters demonstrated the chasm in expectation and resources. Whereas the Kop sang of winning the European Cup five times the travelling section responded with "The AutoWindscreens, We've won it two times". Alas that was the high point of a tepid opening half.

Jermaine Pennant and Harry Kewell provided plenty of the width Benitez's formation encouraged, with both prominent against a defence that showed a vast improvement on the haphazard offerings that undermined Bruce's first games in charge.

With both operating as natural wingers instead of offering close support to Fernando Torres, however, the Spain international was frequently isolated. Yet Torres still posed Liverpool's greatest threat, with one shot beyond Chris Kirkland disallowed for a marginal offside decision and a glancing header from a Xabi Alonso free-kick flashing over the top of the former Anfield goalkeeper's crossbar.

When not producing the final touch Torres proved Liverpool's finest creator too. A slick one-two with Javier Mascherano sent the Argentinian clear only for a tame shot straight at Kirkland to leave Benitez wishing their roles had been reversed while a deft flick through to Gerrard produced an equally weak effort from the Liverpool captain.

The home side's dominance could not be questioned, with Brown's half volley from 25 yards as close as Wigan came before the interval, but their inability to break dogged defending posed familiar problems for Benitez as his side exited to funereal silence at the interval.

The Liverpool manager gave no extra support to his leading striker at the start of the second, asking Kewell and Pennant to swap wings was the extent of a necessary reshuffle, but fortunately for Benitez his right-back did and released brewing Anfield frustration as a result. Steve Finnan instigated the move that resulted in Torres' 16th goal of the season with a short pass to the Spaniard who in turn found Gerrard as the Republic of Ireland defender continued his run into the Wigan area.

Fed again by his captain, Finnan squared and the Spanish forward applied a simple but valuable finish beneath Kirkland.

The breakthrough signalled no dramatic improvement in performance by Liverpool but the release of anxiety was palpable. Gerrard almost doubled the lead with a free-kick so powerful the Wigan goalkeeper could only spill the ball towards his own goalline. Bramble was on hand to deny Mascherano.

The defender's next intervention was even more important. A floated free-kick into the Liverpool area was met by the head of Emile Heskey and Gerrard miscued his attempted clearance badly.

The ball broke to Bramble lurking on the edge of the penalty area and with a finish out of character he drove his second goal in two games past Reina and through the heart of Liverpool.

• Guardian Service

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Arbeloa, Carragher, Aurelio, Pennant (Kuyt 86), Alonso, Mascherano (Crouch 84), Kewell (Benayoun 74), Gerrard, Torres. Subs not used: Itandje, Riise. Booked: Mascherano, Torres.

WIGAN ATHLETIC: Kirkland, Melchiot, Scharner, Bramble, Kilbane, Valencia, Landzaat, Brown, Taylor (Koumas 79), Heskey (Sibierski 84), Bent. Subs not used: Pollitt, Boyce, Olembe. Booked: Scharner.

Referee: Steve Bennett(Kent).