Liverpool's CM..

For the first time in years, Liverpool have a real chance of winning the Premier League title. The Reds went into this match with an impressive record, winning all of their last four matches, scoring nine and only conceeding two. Kenny Daglish made one change from the team that beat Fulham in midweek, Jay Spearing replacing the injured Lucas. In front of a sell out crowd at Anfield, Liverpool attacked straight away from the first whistle, giving Wigan no time to settle on the ball. But, it was The Latics who had the games first real goal scoring opportunity, but N'Zogbia was denied by Liverpool goalkeeper, Pepe Reina, who was in top of his game all afternoon. After receiving a pass from Mohamed Diame, Wigan attacker Hugo Rodallega and fired a low, powerful shot at Reina, who was able to reach the ball and palm it away to safety.

Just after the fifteenth minute, Liverpool had taken the lead, completely against the run of play. Wigan lost the ball in the middle of the park and Steven Gerrard went on a surging run down the middle of the pitch and expertly picked out the run of Luis Suarez who crossed the ball into Andy Carroll who had the easy task of heading pass Wigan goalkeeper Ali-Al Hasbi, who had no chance with the forwards perfectly placed header. Liverpool 1-0 Wigan Athletic.

It didn't take long for the visitors to respond testing Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal nearly straight away. It was a swift move from Wigan, easily cutting open the Liverpool defence, N'Zogbia managed to wriggle his way past the Liverpool defence and laid the ball of to Connor Sammon who fired a low shot at Pepe Reina, but the Spanish stop-stopper dived to his right and prevented Wigan scoring an equalizer.

Wigan kept pressing hard after the break, but Liverpool extended their lead in dramatic fashion. Dirk Kuyt smashing home a volley from the edge of the box, which gave Al Hasbi no chance..the timing of Kuyt's volley was just world class, no goalkeeper in the world would have saved it. Wigan were complaining that Andy Carroll had fouled Hendry Thomas in the build-up to Liverpool's second, but the goal stood and Liverpool were two goals to the good. Liverpool 2-0 Wigan Athletic.

Wigan got a consolation goal in the 88th minute, Ben Watson being the goalscorer. But it was too late, Liverpool had won 2-1, and you could say, quite comfortably too'. Liverpool 2-1 Wigan Atheltic

Kenny Daglish - Liverpool manager 'Full credit to the lads, we peformed brillantly today, a fantastic team peformance. The way we cancelled Wigan out of the game for large periods of the game was very pleasing, they couldn't get near us, we were simply too good. We have a tough game next week against Birmingham at their place, which is always a tricky place to go and get a result.'

Roberto Martinez - Wigan Athletic manager 'The officiating today was simply awful, everything went against us. I thought some big decasions in the game were bizzare, I could not understand them. The push on Gary Cadwell in the build up to their second, was very blatent and how the referee & his officals did not notice this is very worrying for our game. Everythings going against us. Is it the mafia? Who knows.'

In an era when footballers seem to be on the front page of every newspaper for their latest off-the-field shenanigans, it's refreshing to meet someone who hasn't had life handed on a plate.

Johan Elmander was not top of supporters' wish-lists when they were dreaming of who Kenny Daglish might bolster his squad with during the transfer window. But those who have seen him play so far this season have been more than impressed with his peformances.

This is the biggest stage in Elmander's career and he is determined to make the most of it. And not only have his displays on the pitch (including an outstanding cameo appearance at Everton which helped The Reds salvage a point after slipping two goals behind) endeared him to supporters, his likable personality off the field has made him an instant hit in the dressing room.

The 30-year-old has played all over the world in his 13 years as a pro but there is still no mistaking his dry sense of humour, which has seen his team-mates take an immediate shine to him. Like so many players who don't get a break in the big time straight away, he appreciates life as a professional footballer because the chance very nearly slipped by. Just like millions of kids he wanted to 'make it' in the game but, at the age of 17, no club was willing to take a punt on the big striker. So when he enrolled on a college course in buisness and finance it seemed his life would take a different path. "I was messing about at college basically, he said "doing anything not to work! I was doing a course in buisness and finance - badly - and then my mate got me in at Holmalund. "He didn't think they were doing the best at the time and he told me to write off for a trial. It was a chance to ditch my course and get into football which is what I wanted to do.

"The youth team manager brought me in and I signed and by the end of the year and at the age of 18, I was playing in the first team. "I'd always wanted to be a footballer but the opportunity didn't come along. I played all through school and then what it came to academy age, it never happened. I didn't get a scholarship with a club. "A few of my mates got scholarships but, like I say, I ended up joining as a second year YTS and was a pro by the end of the year. "The lad who told me to write in for a trial didn't make it unfortunately. He's still a good mate. There was about five of us who grew up together and we are all still friends. He's a postman now and he's enjoying life but didn't make it as a footballer unfortunately for him."

And while supporters may had to wait to be convinced that Elmander could do buisness in a Liverpool shirt, his manager knew 6ft 2in striker would be a good addition to his squad and has been championing his cause ever since he put pen to paper. Daglish has called him the most under-rated player in the Premier League, Liverpool's version of Peter Crouch, a man who makes everyone else around him play better.

It's clear that Elmander is genuinely grateful for the faith shown in him by Daglish. "When you sign for a club, the manager obviously believes in you or else or he wouldn't be signing you, " he said. "But for him to believe in me so much and to say good things about me is great and hopefully I can prove him right. "He's definitely on my side. He wants all types of forwards in his armoury and there are a few of us who can all do different jobs and as long as every base is covered he couldn't care less whether you've come from the Premier League or the Championship, as long as you can do the job. "The results and the way we play will justify what he does and says. Hopefully, I will justify that high regard he has put me in."

From Feyenoord, Elmander went on to ply his trade for Djurgarden (loan), NAC Breda (loan), Brondby, Toulouse and Bolton Wanderers. He quotes his time at Toulouse as his most enjoyable after helping them become a fortress in French football again, under Elie Baup. Elmander's only other previous experience in the Premier League was with Bolton Wanderers, forming a strong partnership with Kevin Davies. And, he believes, the current Liverpool boss is the best man to help Liverpool become the best team in England again, with Manchester United retaining that status for many years.

Daglish had made it clear that he wanted to bring another forward in to bolster his attack, "I knew about the interest a couple of weeks before but everything went quiet," said Elmander. "Then I got a call to say the deal was done and it was a case of be on your way. "I arrived at Anfield on the day of the team photo. I went on the picture before everything had been done and dusted and then sat down with gaffer and sorted everything out. "It was an easy decision to join him, because I had known him quite well before he showed his interest in signing me and he talked about about taking this team as high as he can with the calibre of players - those already here and those he is bringing in - and the calibre of the club. Playing for this club is a challenge I am relishing, I'm looking forward to it. "At Bolton we had a very good home record and obviously this is a bigger club with a even bigger backing, so if we can do better than we did there, who knows?"


QUICK FIRE WITH JOHAN ELMANDER
Cat or DOG
SHOWER or Bath
Book or MAGAZINE
SIX A SIDE or Eleven a side
Suit or TRACKSUIT
TEA or Coffee
Up early or LIE IN

Xavi..who was nearly taken of before his goal, but came to the party big time with two stunning solo goals to put Barcelona top of Group D. But, it could of been so different if Steven Gerrard had finished from Lucas' drilled cross narrowly missing Valdes' far post. Liverpool were left chasing the game and really didn't threaten much after Gerrard's close effort, with Barcelona controlling the play and staying throughly dominant for a good 70 minutes. Barcelona took the lead on 77 minutes, Meireles had lost the ball in the centre of midfield, David Villa countered leaping his way past several desperate Liverpool challenges before playing Xavi in for a simple tap-in past Reina. The lead was doubled 4 minutes later as Xavi doubled his goal tally for the night with a superb far post volley from a Dani Alves cross. Liverpool were taught a footballing lesson from Barcelona, manager Kenny Daglish will hope for a better result in the return leg at Anfield in two weeks time.

Liverpool Manager - Kenny Daglish: 'It's a wake-up call for us, we'll re-group and bounce back. Although it was a dissapointing peformance we will take the postives, the players showed a lot of character, I couldn't ask more from my players, they gave 110 per cent. Xavi showed what a class midfielder he is, he's one of them players who you can't get near'.