FA Premier League - Saturday 7th August 1999, from Hillsborough

V

Result
Sheffield Wednesday	1	2	Liverpool
Carbone 88		Fowler 75 Camara 84
Att: 34,853

Teams
Srnicek	Westerveld
Newsome	Heggem
Hinchcliffe	Matteo
Walker	Carragher
Thome	Hammann
Alexandersson	Hypia
Donnelly	Smicer
Sonner	Redknapp
Rudi	Berger
de Bilde	Fowler
Sibon	Camara

Subs

Subs

Cresswell - Sibon (59 mins)	Thompson - Hammann (24 mins)
Carbone - de Bilde (68 mins)	Staunton - Berger (81 mins)
Briscoe - Donnelly (77 mins)	Meijer - Camara (89 mins)

Un-used Subs

Un-used Subs

Pressman	Nielsen
Haslam	Song

Match Report

Opening day defeat for Wednesday Wednesday 1-2 Liverpool - by Paul Farrant Wednesday 1-2 Liverpool - by Anne Burkinshaw The 'Millennium season' kicked off with Wednesday unable to get anything from big summer spending Liverpool, eventually going down 1-2 at home infront of a good crowd for the season opener. The Owls didn't have a full squad to select from before the game - skipper Peter Atherton was suspended for this match, after picking up a sending off on the final game of the season away to Charlton in the 1998/99 season. Danny Wilson was also without Dutch midfield maestro Wim Jonk - who is currently back in Holland with family troubles. Jon Newsome came into the side at right-back in place of Atherton, with Danny Wilson opting the experience ahead of youngster Steve Haslam. There were debut's given to Gilles de Bilde, Gerald Sibon and Simon Donnelly. Liverpool, who have spent big money during the off-season in an attempt to turn the club into a serious title contender, also handed out plenty of debuts. The first real chance of the game fell to Wednesday new boy Gilles de Bilde, whose 25-yard shot clipped the bar. It would've been a dream start for the Owls, and indeed for the Belgian himself. After this, Liverpool settled the game down and controlled the game. Robbie Fowler, without regular upfront partner Michael Owen, carved up a chance with a tight dribbling run before squeezing in a shot that Czech. keeper Pavel Srnicek managed to palm away. Srnicek has been given the go ahead of Kevin Pressman, but there were many strong feelings after this one that Kev should be called back up - because of Pab's inability to hold onto the ball. The Merseysiders were unlucky not to open the scoring on 23 minutes when Vladimir Smicer's drilled shot were cleared off the line by Newsome. It was an early let-off for Wednesday, whose midfield was being run all over by that of Liverpool's. Half-time: Owls 0-0 Liverpool The home crowd clearly showed their feelings on the current Beni Carbone contract fiasco - when they cheered as the little Italian came off the subs bench to warmup. New boys de Bilde and Sibon were both taken off midway through the second half, which was not the agreement of many fans who felt de Bilde was looking the most likely Wednesday player to score. Straight away Carbone showed his class - setting up sub Richard Cresswell, whose goal scoring opportunity was wasted as he fired directly into Westerveld's arms. With just quarter of an hour to go Liverpool took the lead. Smicer's through ball was picked up by Robbie Fowler, who lobbed Srnicek to send the Merseyside club into the lead. It was a relief for Fowler, who had previously missed an easy close range header. By this time, Fowler was becoming a real menace and it was his shot that was parried by Srnicek, and followed up by Titi Camara for number two. With just minutes remaining, Carbone threw Wednesday a lifeline with a magnificent chip over Liverpool keeper Westerveld, to pull it back to 2-1. Liverpool held onto the win, leaving the Owls with nothing to show from their first performance of the new season. The season doesn't get any easier from here either, with Manchester United at Old Trafford just four days later.