• Liverpool midfielder gestured at referee after yellow card
• Andre Marriner deemed incident unworthy of punishment

Steven Gerrard is unlikely to face censure from the Football Association for allegedly flicking a V-sign at the referee Andre Marriner during Liverpool’s costly defeat at Wigan Athletic last night.

Footage of Gerrard’s reaction to his 82nd minute booking at the DW Stadium appears to show the Liverpool captain gesturing towards the match official and mouthing an obscenity. Marriner, however, is believed to have witnessed the incident at the time and deemed it unworthy of further punishment.

Unless the FA are informed the referee has reconsidered his initial verdict, no charges are expected to be brought against Gerrard, who captained England against Egypt last week in the wake of the John Terry controversy.

The FA is likely to let the matter drop with Liverpool officials, who spoke to the midfielder after the game, adamant Gerrard’s gesture was not offensive or intended for the referee.

Steven GerrardLiverpoolPremier LeagueRefereesAndy Hunterguardian.co.uk

• Liverpool manager could not hide disappointment after 1-0 loss
• ‘We have to keep going for fourth place,’ said Benítez

Rafael Benítez cut a dejected figure as Liverpool’s Champions League ambitions suffered a serious setback with a 1-0 defeat at Wigan Athletic last night, though he mustered enough venom to condemn his players for the attitude and lack of character they displayed at the DW Stadium. “We didn’t show the right attitude and even though we worked harder in the second half, we played without game intelligence,” complained the Liverpool manager.

Wigan’s first ever league win over Liverpool has left the Anfield club in a precarious position. Hugo Rodallega’s first-half goal gave Roberto Martínez’s side a major fillip in their bid to avoid relegation, but Wigan’s emotions were in stark contrast to Benítez.

The Liverpool manager added: “We didn’t do anything in the first half. The attitude was much better in the second half but it wasn’t enough. It is difficult to explain because we prepared for the game properly. We knew Wigan would play in this way but there were too many things from us that I cannot understand.”

Liverpool had five players booked on the night and Steven Gerrard was pictured raising two fingers after he was shown a yellow card for a foul on the impressive 19-year-old, James McCarthy. Liverpool later denied the gesture was intended to be offensive or was directed at the match referee, Andre Marriner.

“We have to keep going for fourth place,” added Benítez, who had described this fixture as a must-win before kick-off. “That is all we can do. You can have good and bad times but we had to do better tonight on what was a crucial moment.”

LiverpoolRafael BenítezWigan AthleticPremier LeagueAndy Hunterguardian.co.uk