By Ken Gaunt, PA Sport

        Guy Whittingham ended Liverpool's proud unbeaten home record today and
     raised questions about their ability to mount a series Premiership challenge. 
        The 32-year-old Sheffield Wednesday striker grabbed only his fourth goal
     of the season after 21 minutes and that was enough to separate the two sides. 
        Whittingham's goal may have secured the three points, but Wednesday's
     outstanding player was keeper Kevin Pressman, who made a string of
     magnificent saves. 
        Liverpool have now picked up only two points from their last three home
     games and left the field to a chorus of boos. 
        Wednesday manager David Pleat decided to leave Regi Blinker on the bench
     after his worldwide ban had been lifted by FIFA yesterday. 
        Pleat had promised that they would not shut up shop and play a defensive
     game. 
        And his team were as good as his word, certainly in the early stages of
     the game when they clearly rattled Liverpool. 
        Andy Booth could have put Wednesday ahead as early as the second minute
     when Patrik Berger carelessly lost possession to Dejan Stevanovic. 
        He delivered a well directed cross into the path of Booth, but somehow
     the former Huddersfield striker sent a header over the top when it seemed
     easier to score. 
        Mark Pembridge then knocked the ball wide of the post after Ian Nolan's
     cross had split the Liverpool defence. 
        Wednesday took the lead after 21 minutes when Jason McAteer gave the
     ball away to Benito Carbone. 
        The Italian cleverly back-heeled the ball into the path of Mark
     Pembridge. His shot was struck firmly enough, but seemed to be going wide,
     only for Guy Whittingham to stick his foot out and divert the ball into the
     net. 
        Liverpool hit back and were inches away from grabbing the equaliser
     eight minutes before the break. 
        Keeper Pressman's clearance only reached McAteer 25 yards out on the
     right and he quickly lobbed the ball back towards an empty net. 
        But the ball drifted onto the post and Pressman recovered to push the
     rebound from Robbie Fowler superbly over the top. 
        Pressman made another marvellous save less than a minute later when he
     pushed away a 25-yard thunderbolt by Berger. 
        Pembridge, such a tireless worker for Wednesday, almost put the
     Yorkshire club further ahead a minute after the break with a 20-yard effort
     that flashed past the post. 
        Then Carbone was allowed a free header from Ian Nolan's cross only to
     direct it into the arms of keeper David James. 
        Liverpool breathed a sigh of relief after 71 minutes when Booth's header
     from Carbone's corner beat James, only to rattle the bar. 
        That incident sparked a frantic five-minute spell with Pressman making a
     marvellous point-blank save from Fowler. 
        Then McManaman, who had otherwise been quiet, saw a header strike the
     woodwork with Pressman well beaten. 
        Blinker played out the last 11 minutes of the match and was able to
     savour a famous Wednesday victory at Anfield. 


     PLEAT SALUTES CAPTAIN ATHERTON

        Sheffield Wednesday manager David Pleat savoured a 1-0 victory against
     Liverpool at Anfield today, labelling skipper Peter Atherton as "Captain
     Fantastic." 
        Atherton was asked to do a man-marking job on winger Steve McManaman and
     carried out his task to the letter. 
        Guy Whittingham's goal in the 21st minute brought Liverpool's unbeaten
     home record for the season to an end and put a dent in their title hopes. 
        Keeper Kevin Pressman was also an inspiration as Pleat revealed his
     players had been stung by remarks in an article today. 
        Pleat said: "I read in one newspaper that the unremarkable Sheffield
     Wednesday shouldn't give Liverpool any problems. 
        "It was the unremarkable I didn't like. My players are honest players,
     who do a decent job week in, week out. 
        "I thought Atherton was fantastic today and we got all our tactics right." 
        England winger McManaman had his quietest match in weeks, although one
     header hit the bar. 
        Wednesday stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches in the progress
     and Atherton said: "I had to do the same job on Georgi Kinkladze when we
     played Manchester City last season. It is a tough role to play. 
        "McManaman is so good on the ball and so full of confidence you have to
     watch him all the time." 
        Liverpool have now taken only two points out of a possible nine in their
     last three games at Anfield and the fans have become increasingly restive. 
        Manager Roy Evans said: "There is nothing easy is this game and our
     first half hour performance must have given Wednesday a great lift. 
        "We had a decent spell just before the break but you could tell it was
     going to be one of those days. 
        "The lad did a good marking job on McManaman. But when that happens you
     need movement around him and we just didn't have that today." 
        Evans is concerned that his side do not start relying too heavily on
     McManaman. 
        "I'd hate to think that we are nothing more than a McManaman team," he
     added. 
        "When he's being watched so tightly it should open opportunities up
     elsewhere, but we just didn't play with our heads. 
        "I've seen him marked tight before and he's ripped teams to bits but no
     one should expect a free ride and we can't afford to rely on one player. 
        "Their lad did a great job on Steve and you've got to credit them for
     their planning, but teams are going to come here to try to stop us and it's
     up to us to overcome that. 
        "It's three points gone but it's a long season and we're still up there
     in the pack." 


     BEATEN LIVERPOOL REMAIN TITLE FAVOURITES

        Despite losing at home to Sheffield Wednesday today, Liverpool remain
     Premiership title favourites with William Hill, who quote them at 9-4 and
     then offer 5-2 Arsenal, 3-1 Newcastle, 7-2 Man Utd, 10-1 Villa, 16-1
     Chelsea, 33-1 Everton, 40-1 Wimbledon, 80-1 Spurs. 
        Enfield and Hednesford are the 5,000-1 FA Cup outsiders, with Stevenage
     at 1,000-1 and Woking 750-1. Liverpool and Man Utd are 11-2 joint
     favourites, with Arsenal and Newcastle both at 6-1. 

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