The DW Stadium was not a happy hunting ground for Liverpool last season after a late Mido penalty dented their hopes of winning the race to lift the Premier League.
Hugo Rodallega made his debut for the Latics that night as a substitute and 14 months on, he was the man that dealt a blow to the Reds' hopes of Champions League qualification.
The Columbian was allowed to break into the Anfield side's penalty area to volley home from close-range and award first blood to the hosts after Jamie Carragher had exposed his side in central defence.
Prior to this, the sides had matched each other on a difficult pitch that only had been laid three days earlier; reminiscent of the one Rafael Benitez's had played on 11 days previous against Unirea Urziceni.
Fernando Torres wasted a golden opportunity to break the deadlock when he crashed a volley against Chris Kirkland's left-hand post on eight minutes.
The Spaniard gave a rare, fiery performance by conceding several unneccessary fouls, which added to the pressure weighing down on his team in this encounter.
Today, Benitez warned his team against carelessness costing them that elusive fourth-place finish this season and it was a Dirk Kuyt gaffe that allowed Rodallega to fire home on 35 minutes.
The 24-year-old almost doubled Wigan's advantage at the start of the second half but saw his shot thwarted by Javier Mascherano, deputising at right-back for a second consecutive game.
Glen Johnson was introduced in a bid to kick-start Liverpool's attack, replacing Lucas Leiva on 59 minutes, after a three-month absence through a knee injury.
Roberto Martinez's side threatened regularly with Marcelo Moreno's header forcing Sotirios Kyrgiakos to make a goal-line clearance, disputing their position of being a point above the relegation zone.
The Bolivian starlet forced Pepe Reina into action again three minutes later but could only fire a relatively tame shot into the arms of the Spanish stopper.
Torres struggled to convert further chances presented to him as the clock ticked down. The ex-Atletico Madrid striker grew increasingly frustrated at lacking his trademark pace and prowess.
His temperament continued to flare and he was repremanded, whilst Steven Gerrard's caution will see that Liverpool are left counting the cost with a £25,000 fine for receiving five bookings in one game.
Rodallega attempted to add to his tally before being substituted on 85 minutes with a shot outside the area that bobbled wide to the right of Reina's goal.
Substitutes Jason Scotland and Victor Moses both scuppered chances to put the game beyond doubt but Wigan held on through the five minutes of added time to take home maximum points.
FINAL SCORE: WIGAN ATHLETIC 1 LIVERPOOL 0
WIGAN ATHLETIC: Kirkland, Caldwell, Scharner, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa, N'Zogbia, McCarthy, Diame (Thomas 81), Moreno (Moses 66), Rodallega (Scotland 86). Subs (not used): Stojkovic, Amaya, Gomez, Sinclair.
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Mascherano, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Lucas (Johnson 54), Gerrard, Maxi, Benayoun (Aquilani 68), Kuyt (Babel 81), Torres. Subs (not used): Cavalieri, Agger, Riera, Ngog.
Referee: Andre Marriner
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