LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez is still waiting for one of his forwards to find the net in the Premiership in 2006 after Sami Hyypia helped the Reds return to winning ways. Robbie Fowler may have started for the first time after his return to Anfield last month, but it was centre-back Hyypia who grabbed the only goal of a dull affair on the half hour.

For Carling Cup finalists Wigan, after coming from behind in their last two matches to grab a point, there was to be no hat-trick. Manager Paul Jewell had demanded his players "get in the faces" of Liverpool in an attempt to redeem themselves following a pitiful 3-0 defeat at Anfield in early December. But that was never going to be the case with a makeshift attack of centre-back Paul Scharner operating behind versatile Andreas Johansson. Jewell was without the suspended Jason Roberts, the injured David Connolly and Lee McCulloch, and the ineligible Neil Mellor. There was also no Henri Camara as the Senegal forward had failed to return from African Nations Cup duty in time.

It led to Jewell effectively playing four centre-backs and inevitably, that led to a chanceless opening half from Wigan, but also a fairly sterile display from Liverpool who were looking to bounce back after successive defeats to Chelsea and Charlton.

Despite Fowler's return, there was limited invention and movement, and just one chance for the Anfield legend prior to the visitors opening the scoring. Fowler had a cushioned header comfortably saved by Mike Pollitt, who then should have done better in reacting to Hyypia's rare strike. With Fernando Morientes receiving treatment, there appeared little danger for Wigan after seemingly clearing their lines. But a hopeful punt from Jamie Carragher found Hyypia and he scuffed a weak shot past Pollitt. Pollitt redeemed himself with a point-blank save to deny Morientes on the stroke of half-time when it should have been 2-0 after Fowler had laid the ball on a plate.

But whatever Jewell put in his players' half-time cup of tea clearly had a galvanising effect as Wigan emerged a different team. Johansson first forced a full-stretch tipover from Jerzy Dudek in the 49th minute, before the goalkeeper was then smartly down to prevent Hyypia from scoring at both ends.

In between, Pollitt denied Gerrard's left-foot drive after a fine cross from Fowler. But the home side had taken control with De Zeeuw twice going close with headers following inch-perfect crosses from Reto Ziegler. However that was as good as it got for Wigan as they ran out of ideas, despite a distinctly below-average display from Liverpool. Hyypia admitted it had been far from the complete performance. "We can obviously do better, " he said.

But he was delighted to get the win and to hit the only goal. "I go up to set-pieces and I've waited to score a goal, " he said. "Of course my job is to keep clean sheets rather than score goals, but goals are a bonus."