Heskey won the free-kick, tempting Khalid Boulahrouz into a rash challenge, and the former Liverpool striker then got to Josip Skoko's set-piece delivery before Drogba.
Liverpool eventually broke free of their second half shackles and Wigan had JosipSkoko to thank when he threw himself at a Dirk Kuyt shot from 12 yards with Kirkland committed.