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On taking over, Mark Hughes talked about his players having to quickly understand what was required. On this evidence it is to adhere to a tight shape, fan out when in possession to offer the ball carrier options, and shoot more.

Simple, maybe, but in the last days of Neil Warnock QPR too often lost their way and games when teams got at them. Here, Tommy Smith’s 79th-minute 30-yard barnburner that sealed the win illustrated Hughes’s point when he also stated that conversion not creation was what has hobbled QPR this season.

Despite this being a contest between two sides stuck in the exit chamber of the Premier League this was a riveting watch. Bottom place (Wigan) against 18th (QPR) in late January sounds like an advert for a tense and torpid affair but this was pacy and entertaining to the end as Hughes registered his first Premier League win as QPR manager.

Victor Moses raced down the left to leave Luke Young flailing before zipping a ball across Paddy Kenny that no team-mate could convert. This followed Jordi Gómez delivering a cross that a dozing home defence allowed Steve Gohouri to wander onto unmarked but he missed.

DJ Campbell, replaced by Smith at the break, looked sharp until opportunity came knocking: a flipped pass from Joey Barton removed the defence but found only a static Campbell and strike partner, Heidar Helguson.

Akos Buzsaky missed with two attempts but ended the period planting a 25-yard free-kick beyond Ali al-Habsi that pinged in off the right post.

Before, Barton’s corner from the left was poor, but James McCarthy stuck out a hand, the penalty was awarded, and Helguson stepped up to stroke home for a ninth of the campaign.

QPR could even afford to miss a penalty – Helguson this time seeing his kick produce a fine save from Habsi to his right.

Premier League 2011-12Bolton WanderersLiverpoolPremier LeagueJamie Jackson
guardian.co.uk

• Warrior to replace Adidas as Liverpool’s official kit supplier
• Deal reported to be worth £25m annually to the club

Liverpool have confirmed they have signed a six-year deal with the American firm Warrior Sports to become the club’s official kit supplier.

Owned by New Balance, Warrior will replace Adidas, producing Liverpool’s home, away and third kits and the team’s training wear in a deal that begins on 1 June 2012. The deal is understood to be worth £25m a year to Liverpool.

Warrior have traditionally been associated with ice hockey and lacrosse in the US, but their general manager Richard Wright said: “We are here to shake up the world of football”.

Ian Ayre, the club’s managing director, said: “This is another landmark deal for Liverpool Football Club and once again shows the value of the club’s brand globally. Warrior Sports will bring its own unique brand and ideas to the partnership, ensuring they can assist us at the club both on and off the field of play.”

Liverpool
guardian.co.uk

• Carlos moving to Anfield after impressing in NextGen series
• Sporting selling youngster to held ease financial issues

Liverpool have agreed a deal with Sporting Lisbon, close to £1m, to sign one of the most talented young players from the academy that has developed the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Nani.

João Carlos, 19, is moving to Anfield after coming to the attention of the Liverpool manager, Kenny Dalglish, during a scoring performance in the NextGen series of youth-team matches earlier this season.

The teenager has been talked about in Portugal as being similar to a young Deco but Sporting have financial issues and have decided to accept Liverpool’s offer in keeping with their usual policy of nurturing young players and then selling them for profit.

Carlos has trained with Sporting’s first-team this season, but has not made his senior debut.

LiverpoolSporting LisbonTransfer windowDaniel Taylor
guardian.co.uk