Wigan started the game the brighter and carved out a couple of early chances. Firstly Jamie Carragher had to be on hand to make a last ditch tackle in the penalty box and then Pepe Reina had to be alert to make a snap save from Olivier Kapo.
At the other end Xabi Alonso saw a long range shot go just past Chris Kirkland's post before Robbie Keane shot narrowly wide from a tight angle after running onto Albert Riera's clever through ball.
Wigan scored the opener on the half hour mark and it was an absolute gift. Reina played the ball out to Daniel Agger who's first touch was poor allowing Zaki to steal in and slot home.
It was a disappointing moment for Agger on his return to league action after 13 months out but he soon made ammends. The Dane brought the ball out from the back on 38 minutes, kept going forward, exchanged passes with Andrea Dossena, went to the byline and then picked out Dirk Kuyt inside the 18 yard box. Kuyt beat Kirkland to score for the third successive game, the first time he's done this for Liverpool.
The equaliser fired up the Reds who then began turning the screw. Kuyt thought he'd scored again when he hammered in a 20 yard shot but Kirkland somehow got a hand to it and pushed it onto the crossbar. Jermaine Pennant then found space on the right and put in an excellent cross which Riera headed wide.
With Liverpool on top it was a blow when Wigan regained the lead in first half stoppage time. Valencia went past Dossena and Agger far too easily before crossing into the box. His cross wasn't a good one, going behind Zaki but the Egyptian connected with an amazing bicycle kick to score a goal of the month contender and restore Wigan's advantage.
The Reds came out for the second half with the bit between their teeth and began creating chances. Alonso's cross was headed back across goal by Agger and Lee Catermole had to clear off the line with Keane lurking behind him. Kuyt then had a shot saved after a good cross from Keane had played him in.
Riera again headed over before Steven Gerrard sent a 20 yard free kick millimeters wide of the post. The free kick had taken an age to be taken as Wigan continually encroached towards the ball and the referee finally lost patience booking Valencia before Gerrard's strike.
That was to prove decisive as Valencia was sent off moments later when he received a second yellow for a late tackle on Xabi Alonso. With Wigan down to ten men Rafa Benitez went for broke taking off both full backs and bringing on Nabil El Zhar and Yossi Benayoun. His boldness brought dividends.
El Zhar has made four subsitute appearances this season and in each he has helped the Reds turn a draw or defeat into a win. It was the same yesterday; the winger received the ball wide on the left, took on a couple of defenders and played a low ball to the edge of the box. Gerrard stepped over the ball and allowed it to run through to Riera who hit a sweet shot into the bottom corner and levelled things up.
Still Liverpool weren't done. Jermaine Pennant sent in a cross five minutes from time which Kuyt met with a bicycle kick. The ball bounced off the floor and up past Kirkland and into the net for 3-2. The comeback kings had done it again.