Thanks, but no Shanks

THEY paid tribute to Bill Shankly at Anfield last night in their tens of thousands and, while the current Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is still some way short of having the same impact on Merseyside as the legendary Scotsman, goals from David N’gog and Fernando Torres at least ensured a victory over Wigan and an end to recent miseries, for the moment at least.

The evening had reverential tones underpinning it, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the great Shankly taking over the club, his first game in charge having come against Cardiff on December 19, 1959.

Even with Torres and Alberto Aquilani back on the bench after playing in the weekend defeat against Arsenal, the home side started off strongly and appeared well capable of seeing off Wigan.