Kuyt : on the score sheet

DIRK KUYT'S deadly double dashed Wigan's hopes of a famous win at Anfield. Amr Zaki's incredible season continued when he opened the scoring for the Latics. Dutch ace Kuyt levelled before the Egyptian made it 2-1 with a contender for goal of the season.

But Wigan winger Luis Valencia saw red late on and Albert Riera and Kuyt netted in the final ten minutes for an unlikely comeback win. Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez hailed Kuyt's performance. He said: "We started badly but Kuyt did us proud in this game. "The whole side showed great character to come back like that again. "I felt we won it because we have belief in ourselves and believe that we can win these games. "It is a positive situation for us that we have this level of confidence." Latics boss Steve Bruce blasted referee Alan Wiley for Valencia's red card. He said: "In my opinion we were robbed. "It is a joke that we have not come away from this match with something. "The referee got the first booking for Valencia wrong. "The Liverpool player took the kick and Valencia did not encroach towards it until the ball had been kicked. So he got that one wrong. "Then there is the tackle on Alonso, in which I felt the lad touched the ball. I felt that was harsh. "Those decisions changed the whole course of the game. With 11 against 11 we would not have lost."

Zaki ran Liverpool defenders Jamie Carragher and Agger ragged early on. But both sides were misfiring in front of goal with Robbie Keane guilty of missing the Reds' best chance on 26 minutes. He was made to pay on the half-hour mark when Zaki struck. Agger gifted the ball to the loan star on the edge of the box and he smashed home his sixth goal in just eight matches for the Latics. Wigan had dominated before the goal but Liverpool seemed to come alive after going behind.

Agger quickly made up for his howler when he broke down the left and played in Kuyt to score his first goal at Anfield in 18 months. But on the stroke of half time Zaki's scissor kick stunned Anfield. Valencia's inch-perfect cross was put away in stunning fashion to give Wigan the half-time lead. Liverpool came out fighting in the second period. Kuyt's instant shot from Keane's cross was blocked well by keeper Chris Kirkland. The match was set up for a trademark Steven Gerrard rescue mission. The Liverpool skipper lashed a 30-yarder wide before his side-footed free-kick went just past the post.

The chances of a Kop comeback were boosted when Valencia was shown a second yellow for a reckless challenge on 75 minutes. And it was Riera who levelled the match with 10 minutes to go when his smashed home from 20 yards. Five minutes later, Liverpool's comeback was complete when Kuyt grabbed the winner.