The Reds recorded their sixth consecutive Premiership win after Crouch’s long-range shot was deflected into the net via Leighton Baines and goalkeeper Mike Pollitt, before the England striker added a superb second and Luis Garcia scored a third.

Manager Rafael Benitez could not have been a happier man after his beanpole striker scored his first goal since May 7, when he was still a Southampton player.

And both he and Crouch insisted after the game that the opening goal belonged to Crouch.

“He was shooting for goal, it was on target and it doesn’t matter who touched it,” said Benitez. “The goal is Peter’s.”

Crouch added: “Of course I am claiming the first one. It was on target and, if you start ruling an own goal every time a goalkeeper gets a hand to the ball and it goes over the line, there will be precious few goals awarded to strikers.

“I have no doubt, and the manager agrees. Everyone at the club is telling me it was my goal and I have absolutely no doubt. It took a deflection, but that didn’t change the way the ball was going.

“It was on target when I hit it and it was still on target when it got to the goal after the deflection. Their goalkeeper scrambled back, but couldn’t stop it. That’s my goal.

“As for the second, I was so pleased that went in, it means there’s no doubt I have scored for Liverpool.”

When the dust had settled on Liverpool’s eighth consecutive match without conceding a goal, the £7million frontman revealed some of the doubts which have troubled him since he moved to Anfield.

“Of course I have been worried, I have taken a lot of stick, and I just wanted it to end with a goal.

“But everyone at the club have been so supportive, the manager has always said that I am playing well and we are winning. And that is all that mattered.”

For Wigan, it was their third defeat on the trot after a start to their first Premiership season which has won them deserved praise.

Wigan boss Paul Jewell was obviously disappointed on his return to the club where he had two seasons in the reserves as a player in the 1980s.

“It was hard work watching that,” said Jewell. “I was disappointed because I wanted to come here and really have a go at them, and we didn’t really go at them in the first half and put them under any pressure.

“We were better in the second period, but it is fair to say that when we come to places like Liverpool, anything we get is a bonus.

“People accuse me of being negative, but surely they can see we are playing against world-class players every week now. I know what we are up against, certainly at Anfield, and my aim is to stay up.

“That is my only objective and it will be a great success for us if we stay in this division. That will be a tremendous success for us, it is just being realistic.”

Crouch had seen a header saved before surging forward from the halfway line after 19 minutes with the crowd roaring for him to shoot.

He took the hint and lashed a shot from 20 yards which ballooned up off Baines before dropping over the head of Mike Pollitt, the Wigan goalkeeper then pushing the ball over the line in a vain attempt to keep it out.

Crouch had no doubts. He raced down the pitch before being engulfed by delirious team-mates, but still found time to turn to the Kop and hold his hands aloft in relief as much as joy.

Three minutes before the break he saw the ball hit the net again. Steve Finnan’s long pass found Crouch just outside the box and he turned to hook it over Pollitt’s head for the second. Cue more delirium.

Arjen de Zeeuw’s header clipped the bar but he landed awkwardly and soon had to go off with an ankle problem.

Steven Gerrard, who had an outstanding game, could have scored twice in the first half as Liverpool piled on the pressure.

The second period saw Wigan show their commitment and drive as they hit back strongly. Jason Roberts almost scored before Fernando Morientes saw a header clip the bar at the other end.

John Arne Riise and Dietmar Hamann came on for Harry Kewell and Xabi Alonso to underline the need for defensive strength as Wigan continued to come forward. But they were now leaving gaps, and Luis Garcia settled the issue from close range with his chest following Fernando Morientes’ header.

So Liverpool’s increasingly impressive run continues with Chelsea next in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Benitez added: “We are confident, we feel we do not concede many chances and are a match for anyone.”