Reds score solid victory

Liverpool finally ended their poor run of form with an away win that owed much to their total dominance of the first period as Robbie Fowler made a first start after his return .

They fully deserved their goal that came thanks to a Hyypia volley an the half hour, just when it looked like Wigan might hold out to half-time as they were given a footballing lesson from the visitors.

Wigan were able to clear a free-kick but as the defence rushed out, Carragher hooked the ball back goalwards and found the run of Hyypia. He volleyed the ball goalwards and beat the despairing dive of Mike Pollitt, who will be disappointed that he was unable to keep it out after getting a hand on it.

Wigan changed their game in the second-half and were able to pin the Reds back into their own half for long periods, but a couple of headers apart, the Liverpool goal was never under any real threat.

Indeed, the Wigan storm eventually blew itself out and Steven Gerrard was able to drive his team forwards again in the dying moments of the game as Liverpool looked to make the match safe with a second goal.

Liverpool survived the first-half without surrendering a single chance on their goal and could, if not should, have made more of their chances.

Both Gerrard and Fernando Morientes saw Pollitt save from close-range before Hyypia stole in to grab to lead and they could so easily have been made to pay for it in the second-half.

However, try as they might, Paul Jewell's men just couldn't break down a stubborn Liverpool defence and they held on for a much needed win after recent defeats at both Chelsea and Charlton within the last week.

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