Wigan Athletic

1.89

• 
  4

  14

  1.00

  Ali Al Habsi Flop of the Match

  The Lactics keeper failed to position himself well enough to see off Downing’s opener, the shot-stopper not putting up too much of a fight to redeem his poor reflexes. The third goal from Suarez’s free kick could possibly have been avoided too, but a deflection did not help matters while Suarez gave him little chance for the fourth.

• 
  1

  8

  2.00

  Gary Caldwell

  Didn’t stick tight enough to Suarez, as Coutinho slotted the ball through to the striker to double Liverpool’s lead and did the Wigan backline a disservice during the first goal with a complete lack of discipline that saw Downing head in easily.

• 
  1

  9

  1.50

  Emmerson Boyce

  The young Coutinho showed the Lactics defender up in the lead up to the opening goal of the game, the Brazilian working his way around the Wigan man to get a cross into the box for Downing to head in.

• 
  2

  6

  2.00

  Maynor Figueroa

  The full-back was having more luck against Downing than his teammate Boyce was against Coutinho, but Glen Johnson was also making himself know on Figueroa’s left-side and the Liverpool defender made the pass of the game during the Reds’ fourth after taking on the Wigan man successfully.

• 
  2

  6

  2.00

  James McCarthy

  Failed to offer much for the rest of his Wigan team-mates and failed to deal with the heavy Liverpool presence, with Lucas especially proving difficult to deal with.

• 
  1

  7

  1.50

  James McArthur

  Struggled to work the midfield for Wigan and had trouble negotiating the skills of Liverpool’s men, with Gerrard and Allen successfully passing around him during the game.

• 
  6

  3

  2.50

  Jean Beausejour

  Playing out on the left, the former Birmingham City man was one of Wigan’s brighter player, supplying crosses that occasionally sprouted chances, but his team-mates couldn’t make the most of them.

• 
  1

  7

  2.00

  Paul Scharner

  Partnering captain Caldwell at the back, the defender on his second term with Wigan didn’t particularly shine today and allowed Liverpool to dominate on most occasions around the Lactics area. The fourth goal was a good example of this, as Johnson’s pass through the Suarez took Scharner and two other defenders out of the picture in one fail swoop.

• 
  8

  6

  2.50

  Arouna Kone

  Wigan’s in-form man looked very active during the game, with a number of tackles dispossessing Liverpool men and subsequently offered chances for his team-mates, but never really looked like scoring himself.

• 
  4

  7

  2.00

  Franco Di Santo

  The former Chelsea man could have helped Wigan claw back the deficit at various parts of the match, but the striker failed to make his chances pay; a header saved majestically by Reina one such effort that could have been made more of. Was replaced early in the second half.

• 
  6

  5

  1.50

  Shaun Maloney

  Didn’t really make himself known in the game apart from the odd ball into the box from the right flank.

Substitutions

• 
  2

  6

  2.00

  Antolín Alcaraz

  Was brought on the shore up the Wigan defence, but Liverpool kept on pressing and caused problems for the defender until the whistle.

• 
  2

  6

  2.00

  R. Espinoza

  Came on early in the second-half to induce some energy into the faltering Wigan side, but failed to offer anything that would see the hosts get anything from this game.

• 
  8

  3

  2.00

  Callum McManaman

  The youngster arrived on the hour mark and gave Wigan a bit of energy out on the right, with one or two crosses making their into the Liverpool area, but no avail.

Liverpool

3.54

• 
  102

  2

  4.00

  José Reina Paez

  The Spaniard had to make an early save from a half-chance from Kone, but the in-form attacker’s effort was too soft to make the ‘keeper have to work too hard to stop it. Reina then had a hand in the opening goal, sending the ball out of his box with a thumping kick to find Coutinho who then went up to set up Downing for Liverpool’s first. The Spaniard made his defensive qualities known throughout the game too, with numerous world-class saves to deny Wigan several chances.

• 
  84

  5

  3.50

  Glen Johnson

  Liverpool’s attacking right-back had a very competent first half without doing a great deal, but the second brought about the pass of the game which came from Johnson’s right foot. Taking at least two if not three Wigan defender’s out the picture, the Merseyside man set up Suarez for his official second and Liverpool’s fourth of the match.

• 
  82

  2

  3.50

  José Enrique

  One of the quieter games for the Liverpool left-back who didn’t get forward too many times unlike his previous outings for the Reds, and instead left Coutinho to much of the attacking which the Brazilian did capably. Sitting back, Enrique comfortably dealt with Maloney and any other Wigan man that tried to trouble the Spaniard.

• 
  83

  6

  3.00

  Daniel Agger

  Although he made a couple of sloppy mistakes in the first half, Agger had a good overall game and restricted Wigan’s activity around the Liverpool area.

• 
  74

  10

  3.50

  Jamie Carragher

  The Liverpool stalwart had a solid game and kept the Lactics attackers at bay for most of the game, letting up only a couple of times for Wigan to get a rare chance on goal.

• 
  92

  5

  3.50

  Steven Gerrard

  The Liverpool talisman battled throughout in the middle of the pitch to ensure the visitors controlled the game and offered the away team something to work with on a constant basis.

• 
  130

  3

  4.00

  Coutinho

  Acted quickly to assist Downing get his goal, taking Reina’s full-blooded kick into the Wigan third well and looking for his open colleague in the box with a timely manner. The Brazilian then drew more plaudits with some wonderful movement with the ball and a perfect slotted pass for team-mate Suarez for the Uruguayan to put the visitors two to the good.

• 
  78

  5

  3.50

  Stewart Downing

  The winger positioned himself brilliantly for the opening goal, losing his man and heading past Al Habsi with confidence. The midfielder played strong throughout, but couldn’t replicate his early heroics.

• 
  79

  4

  3.50

  Lucas Leiva

  Although a bit aggressive, the central midfielder played diligently and intelligently, especially when on the ball to keep Liverpool moving in the right direction and on the attack.

• 
  75

  5

  3.50

  Joe Allen

  A very capable performance from the midfielder certainly helped Liverpool boss the battle in the middle and his passing rarely let him down.

• 
  133

  5

  4.50

  Luis Suárez Top of the Match

  The striker's hat-trick took him above Robin van Persie in the Premier League goalscoring charts; with a silky finish to double his side's lead, a free kick and wonderfully taken goal third after a superb Glen Johnson pass.

Substitutions

• 
  64

  3

  2.50

  Jordan Henderson

  Came on for the brilliant Coutinho and added some welcome fresh legs to the Liverpool side.