Hull City edged towards Premier League safety with a 1-0 win over Liverpool on Tuesday that moved them four points clear of the relegation zone and shredded the visitors' slim hopes of Champions League qualification.
Central defender Michael Dawson scored the only goal at the KC Stadium after 37 minutes, beating a hopeless Liverpool offside trap to head home and the hosts comfortably held on to record their second successive victory.
It moved them up to 15th place in the table with four games remaining, while Liverpool stayed fifth, seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester United who occupy the final Champions League qualifying spot.
It was the second successive game in which Liverpool have failed to score and heaped pressure on manager Brendan Rodgers, whose side have taken four points from their last five games.
Liverpool last won the English title 25 years ago to the day and their performance against Steve Bruce's strugglers made them look every inch a team in decline.
Although they had the upper hand in terms of possession, they created little going forward and looked frequently vulnerable at the back.
Wigan relegated to third tier two years after winning Cup
Wigan Athletic, whose meteoric rise saw them reach the Premier League and lift the FA Cup, will play in the third tier of English football next season after a second relegation in three years was confirmed.
The Latics' fate was sealed when Rotherham United beat Reading 2-1 with second-half goals from Matt Derbyshire and Lee Frecklington to secure their Championship status.
That result also saw Millwall relegated after their five years in the second tier.
Unfashionable Wigan, hailing from a rugby-mad town, were transformed under owner and ex-chairman Dave Whelan from also-rans to a team dining at the top table, culminating in a shock FA Cup final win over Manchester City at Wembley in 2013.
However, they became the first side to win the Cup and be relegated in the same season, after which manager Roberto Martinez, the architect of their attractive possession-based game, left for Everton.
Middlesbrough and Norwich City are already in the playoffs with two semi-finals leading to a Wembley showpiece match offering the winners a place in the Premier League along with Watford and Bournemouth, who have all but secured promotion.
