But Wigan fought back and equalised when Steve Gohouri prodded in Antolin Alcaraz's flick on at the far post.

BBC: Liverpool 1-1 Wigan

N'Zogbia's inswinging cross from the right was flicked on by the head of Antolin Alcaraz and then prodded in at the back-post by Gohouri.

BBC: Liverpool 1-1 Wigan

Wigan later had Antolin Alcaraz sent off for two bookable offences before Hugo Rodallega was red carded for a wild lunge on United defender Rafael.

BBC: Man Utd 2-0 Wigan

Sunderland-bound Cristian Riveros headed wide, while Antolin Alcaraz and Santana both peeled away from their markers with far too much ease but could not quite make the decisive contact.

BBC: Paraguay 0-1 Spain

But after modest spending and a turbulent season, which also saw their manager banned for drink driving, a late goal from Wigan's Paraguayan defender Antolin Alcaraz sealed their fate.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

The Merseysiders seemed intent on curing that weakness as they quickly set about Wigan and only a last-ditch tackle by defender Antolin Alcaraz denied Cahill a shot from a promising position.

BBC: Everton 0-0 Wigan

Spanish socialist MEP Antolin Sanchez-Presedo said he had acted "bravely and courageously", but Belgian green MEP Philippe Lamberts was critical of Mr Trichet's position that "the only way to ensure stability is to cut spending", a stance denied by Mr Trichet.

BBC: Jean-Claude Trichet: Economic crisis biggest since WWII