We've got to kill off games warns Liverpool FC striker Dirk Kuyt

He missed. And that has been a recurring theme for Liverpool of late, a failure to capitalise when the opportunity has arisen to either kill off a game or open up a gap at the top of the Premier League table.

Now the Anfield side find themselves having to wedge yet another Merseyside derby into an already demanding fixture schedule.

Indeed, having led the table during the Christmas period, successive league draws mean Liverpool will be playing catch-up on champions Manchester United when they travel to Wigan Athletic this evening.

Kuyt, of course, hasn't been alone with his wayward finishing. And the Dutchman acknowledges Liverpool cannot afford to waste many more presentable opportunities if they are to end a 19-year championship drought.

"We know we have the ability to win every game, but sometimes you are unlucky," he says. "Against Everton on Sunday we had two good chances late on to kill the game off, one of them fell to me and one came to Fernando.

"Sometimes it happens like this. Last Monday we conceded a goal in the closing minutes, and a few months before we were scoring goals in the last minutes. That's football. We just have to keep on going. Maybe we need a lucky break, in recent games we have been unlucky and maybe we could be lucky in our next one.

"We're still in the FA Cup, we're still up at the top of the league and we're still in the Champions League, so we have got to remain positive. We're doing really well this season.

"But yes, we know that the failure to kill off teams is going to have to be addressed if we want to stay in contention for the title."

Since Benitez's attack on Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United intensified the scrutiny of Liverpool's title credentials, the Anfield outfit have drawn all three of their subsequent games while United have won all five of theirs.

Liverpool have drawn six of their last nine league games but Kuyt believes confidence is still high ahead of a pivotal week, with fellow champions rivals Chelsea visiting on Sunday followed by the FA Cup fourth round replay at Goodison three days later.

"We've dropped points when we shouldn't have, but right now we don't have the time to stand still and think about these things for too long, we're playing games every three or four days," says Kuyt.

"The confidence is still okay among the squad. I think we showed again on Sunday that we are a better team than Everton.

"If we win our next three games then things will be looking very positive for Liverpool again."

First up, though, is tonight's trip to the JJB Stadium against a Wigan team safely ensconced in the top half of the table.

Liverpool made hard work of their Lancastrian neighbours when they met at Anfield in October, Kuyt netting twice including a late winner to secure a 3-2 win.

"It's another big game for us, but this is what it is like playing in England," says the Dutch striker. "You know you are going to play every three or four days. We as players are used to it.

"We have a big squad with very good players, so we are able to manage with this many games. I'm not complaining.

"Wigan are in terrific form right now, so it will be a difficult game. Every game in the Premier League is difficult, so we just have to believe in our own strengths.

"We've got to recover from the Everton game and go for the three points at Wigan."

Amr Zaki, who netted twice at Anfield, has not scored from open play since and is likely to be partnered by new arrival Mido this evening with Emile Heskey having moved to Aston Villa last week.

And Kuyt adds: "Wigan have some very good players and Steve Bruce has done a good job since he has gone there. Emile Heskey will be a big loss for them, though.

"He's got back into the England team so that shows how well he has been doing, but Wigan still have other good players."

Benitez is likely to juggle his resources again this evening. Albert Riera, Sami Hyypia and Fabio Aurelio could all come into the reckoning with Robbie Keane definitely involved after missing out against Everton at the weekend.

Meanwhile, unlucky reserve midfielder Francisco Duran has been ruled out of action for six months with a cruciate ligament injury.

The former Malaga man has had two separate spells on the sidelines with damage to his right knee, and this time he has injured his left knee.

IF Liverpool beat Everton in next week's fourth round replay, the FA Cup fifth round match against Aston Villa or Doncaster Rovers will be played at Anfield on Sunday, February 15 (kick-off 2.30pm) and will be televised live on Setanta.