Hyypia gets Liverpool back on track

Wigan 0 Liverpool 1:  Liverpool ended a run of three consecutive Premiership away defeats with a hard-fought success at Wigan today.

Sami Hyypia's 30th-minute strike was enough to give the European champions all three points.

Liverpool had much the better of a poor opening 45 minutes, but Wigan were unfortunate not to take a point with a spirited second-half showing.

Robbie Fowler made his first start for Liverpool following his return to the club last month, but was ineffective and eventually taken off after an hour.

Liverpool's winner came on the half hour when Hyypia was on hand to score his first goal since last April with a poacher's finish. He netted from 10 yards out following a hopeful punt into the area from Jamie Carragher.

The visitors almost went into the interval 2-0 up but Michael Pollitt made a superb close-range save from Fernando Morientes.

Wigan, who had started without a natural striker on the pitch, were much improved after the break.

Andreas Johansson forced Jerzy Dudek into a full-stretch tip-over after meeting a Matt Jackson cross with a powerful header from 10 yards out.

Dudek was again the hero soon after, getting smartly down at his near post to keep out a Hyypia deflection from a low Jackson cross.

Arjan De Zeeuw then headed wide in the 64th minute after rising to meet a whipped-in cross from Reto Ziegler. And two minutes later De Zeeuw headed over from an unmarked position after a Ziegler corner.

Wigan continued to press for the equaliser but Liverpool gradually regained their composure to take a much-needed three points.