Wigan 0-0 Liverpool: Suarez starts but Reds pay the penalty
There is an angry sense of injustice pervading Liverpool right now, and last night's events at the JD Stadium did little to ease it.
Never mind the growing claims of a conspiracy against Luis Suarez emanating from aggrieved Reds, Kenny Dalglish's side will begin to wonder if the very Gods are now contriving against them.
How else to explain yet another performance where they created enough chances to have won comfortably, only to be denied by another inspired opposition keeper, who capped his display with an improbable penalty save?
With Suarez defiantly selected despite the ban hanging over him, Liverpool set out on a frenzied mission to show a solidarity with their embattled team-mate that was expressed through a collective statement before kick off.
And when the South American won a penalty after his trickery induced a handball from Wigan skipper Gary Caldwell on 51 minutes, it seemed his controversial story was about to take yet another fascinating twist, even if it was described as a "soft decision" by home boss Roberto Martinez.
But after being left on the ropes for the past 24 hours, it perhaps should have been no surprise that a man named Ali would deliver a crushing knock-out blow to their hopes.
Wigan keeper Ali Al Habsi saved the spot kick brilliantly from Charlie Adam, and just for good measure produced a string of klix saves to leave the visitors finally stunned on the canvas.
It was the same old story for the Reds, an impressive display, plenty of chances, but an inspired keeper and yet more heartache after what seems like a perpetual series of blows, especially to their totem Suarez.
Little wonder then, that Dalglish was almost bemused afterwards. "Maybe we'd have a chance if the opposition didn't put a goalkeeper in. I feel for the players, because they are doing little wrong," he said.
"I can't be disappointed with the performance, but obviously with not taking all three points. That's four penalties we've missed this season, and you don't exactly cheer when they don't go in, but we must be doing something right to get them in the first place."
Given the events that led up to this game, and Liverpool's decision to delay the ban and play the South American, the game was always going to take a backseat to the central controversy that has rocked the football world.
Suarez was booed by the home fans every time he touched the ball, but it seemed more in jest than true indignation at the South American.
The travelling Reds supporters were much more serious about expressing their own feelings, as they aired regular chants in praise of their idol, and unfurled banners in his defence.
One read: "The FA - A Corrupt Disgrace", and another, which was swiftly taken down by stewards, offered a damning comment about Patrice Evra.
Yet the on-field proceedings were worthy of a sharper focus, because both sides contributed to an exciting, open game, with thrills at both ends. Wigan played a full part, and their resistance in taking points of Chelsea and now Liverpool in the space of four days is testimony to the spirit in their camp.
The home side took time to ease themselves into the contest, but when they did, the powerful running of Victor Moses and Mohamed Diame caused the Reds defence massive problems.
The pair both surged upfield with an incisive flourish at every opportunity, and twice Diame found himself in good shooting positions after impressive breaks, only to shoot wide and then see a second shot well saved by Pepe Reina.
Moses was even more penetrating. He took the ball in his own half and charged past half the Liverpool team, before unleashing a shot that was again turned away, though his audacity deserved better.
Wigan's willingness to attack gave an air of adventure to the contest...and Liverpool space to play in.
They created chances from the start, and it was only the acrobatics of Al Habsi that denied them....an all too depressingly familiar theme for the visiting forwards.
If Suarez himself was understandably a little subdued, then the rest of his team-mates more than made up for it with the Reds forcing three fine saves from the Oman international in the opening exchanges.
The first came in the ninth minute when the keeper performed wonders to turn away a close range shot from Jordan Henderson, and he was even more impressive to deny what seemed a certain goal for Dirk Kuyt.
Daniel Agger should perhaps have done better with a header soon after, but it was the Wigan keeper who was soon in the spotlight again, as Glen Johnson was this time the man denied, after some fine build up play by the Reds.
As the game wore on Liverpool exerted more control, but when Adam was denied to become the fourth different Red to miss from the spot this season, the sense of injustice suggested it was yet again not going to be their night, as did late misses from Kuyt, Bellamy and Shelvey.
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