It was a win that extended the Reds winning run in the Premiership to an impressive six games, saw them keep yet another clean sheet and moved them up into second place in the table.

Crouch netted in the 19th and 42nd minute before Luis Garcia completed the scoring and sealed the points 20 minutes from time.

But this game will forever be remembered for the popular striker breaking his duck in front of goal and when he later left the field to be replaced by substitute Djibril Cisse he did with the acclaim of the Kop ringing joyfully in his ears.

With just goal difference separating Liverpool and Wigan this was a vitally important first-ever league fixture between the two sides.

Rafael Benitez made two changes to the eleven that had started against Sunderland in midweek, with Harry Kewell replacing the suspended Momo Sissoko and Stephen Warnock taking the place of John Arne Riise.

In what was a lively opening, Kewell forced Pollitt into an early diving save after ghosting in from the right to meet a Luis Garcia centre, while at the opposite end Henri Camara dragged a low show wide of the upright from the edge of the box.

As the play continued to flow, Liverpool's football was a joy to watch and Morientes then went close with a header that went narrowly wide.

When the deadlock was finally broken there could be no arguments from the visitors. It was a breakthrough the Reds fully deserved and for the scorer it was a moment he'll forever cherish, even if his critics will claim it wasn't really his goal.

Despite his shot from 20-yards out taking a double deflection it was on target and in the eyes of every Liverpudlian the identity of the scorer was never in doubt. A terrific roar greeted the goal and Crouch ran half the length of the pitch in celebration before being mobbed by his team-mates and saluting an ecstatic Kop.

Wigan's best moments of the first half were a Jason Roberts shot that was dragged just wide and an Arjan De Zeeuw header that shaved the top of the bar but a second goal for the Reds always seemed more likely than a Latics equaliser.

Steven Gerrard twice went close to doubling the lead before the interval and Kewell should have done better when hitting the side-netting from close-range.

All the talk, however, was of Crouch and with three minutes to go before the break he sent Anfield into raptures once again when doubling his and Liverpool's tally. A Xabi Alonso-style through ball by Steve Finnan released the big man and he kept his composure to delightfully lob the advancing keeper.

Liverpool were well worth their 2-0 interval lead and they almost made it three just minutes after the restart but Pollitt tipped a Morientes header onto the bar.

The visitors replied with a Graham Kavanagh strike from distance that sailed agonisingly over and for a brief spell the surprise package of the season so far looked capable of mounting a comeback.

That was until Garcia converted from close-range with his chest in the 70th minute. It was a goal that ended the game as a contest and only a fine double save by Pollitt from Morientes denied Liverpool a fourth near the end.

The Reds are on a roll, the Premiership summit is suddenly within sight and on this form they're going to take some beating.