Young Reds beat Owls with ease
The Owls travelled to Hillsborough as major underdogs for this match, selected by Sky
Sports as a featured live game, but not knowing how this inconsistent Liverpool side would
perform. The Reds have slipped up at home this season on a number of occasions, the
most memorable being their defeat to the hands of Watford earlier this campaign.
Owls manager Danny Wilson was without left-back Andy Hinchcliffe through injury, and so
gave a place in the starting line-up to Lee Briscoe.
This did cause a slight shuffle in the side - with skipper Peter Atherton moving into midfield, while Northern Ireland man
Ian Nolan switched flanks to right-back. Liverpool's French manager Gerrard Houllier fielded a somewhat youthful side,
particularly in midfield, perhaps confident that Wednesday wouldn't pose too much of a threat.
If this was his plan then it nearly had a catastrophic backfire as the Owls came out fired up and looking the more likely to
open the scoring. Yorkshireman Andy Booth's long range shot deflected off Sander Westerveld's post and wide of the
goal. On 15 minutes it was again Booth in the thick of the action - this time failing to take advantage of a Westerveld
slip-up and in the end his tame shot was easily gathering by the big Liverpool keeper.
Wednesday kept pressing forward looking for that all important first goal - and they got their reward in the 18th minute
when a set-piece just on the corner of the Liverpool box was dummied and laid off to Swede Niclas Alexandersson
whose 25 yard drive flew into the net and sent the Owls into the lead. The sheer delight of the moment was there to be
seen on the faces of the Wednesday players and even manager Danny Wilson as he, for just one moment, showed his
excitement to his side's start.
The lead lasted only three minutes though - as a Liverpool corner was headed in with power by an unmarked Sammi
Hyppia. The equaliser came as a blow to the Owls who realised that scoring goals against this Liverpool outfit wouldn't
be easy, and their defence had been beaten at virtually the first attempt. The Owls were on the backfoot now and Michael
Owen almost sent the Reds into the lead straight after Hyppia's goal, only to be denied by Emerson Thome on the line.
Wednesday held on for the most of what was left of the first half, that is until Danny Murhpy fired Liverpool into the lead
just four minutes before the break. A Thompson corner was flicked on and the former Crewe Alexandra player was on
hand to smash the ball past a diving Kevin Pressman. Wednesday's inability to defend from setpieces was exposed
once again and the Reds went in 2-1 up at the break.
Half-time: Liverpool 2-1 Owls
Niclas Alexandersson almost fired his side back on level terms straight after the break only for Westerveld to deny him
his second of the game with a diving save. Booth also came close, Lee Briscoe's cross just slightly overhit as the big
forward failing to connect cleanly with his header. It was to prove a frustrating evening as Alexandersson wasted another
good chance, just moments before Liverpool were to score for a third time, as his lob was not hit properly and Liverpool
were let off the hook.
With just over 20 minutes left the home side scored again and Wednesday's heads dropped. Gerrard made an inspiring
run through midfield before letting rip a powerful drive that left Pressman with no chance. Nine minutes later the game
was over - Thompson found himself at back post and left with an easy tap in to make it 4-1 and the points sealed for
Liverpool.
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