by Carlingnet
Gerard Houllier hailed Robbie Fowler's inspirational part in Liverpool's opening day victory
over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
The England striker, playing his first competitive game since last season's six-match FA
ban, scored a spectacular opener for the Anfield men and created the second for Titi
Camara in a 2-1 win.
And all that after missing a six-yard sitter with a header over an open goal.
Houllier - who backed Fowler last season throughout the crisis caused by his gay slur of
Graeme Le Saux and the uproar over his "cocaine-sniffing" goal celebration - claimed:
"I've noticed a difference in Robbie, in training and off the field.
"But to be frank, I expected it, and that's why I have made him my vice- captain. Everyone
damned well knows that I defended him right to the end, and I believe the reward is
coming."
Fowler's brilliant chip over Pavel Srnicek set up the first win for Houllier's Liverpool
revolution with six foreigners making their debuts at Hillsborough.
But it was old boy Fowler who stole the show. Houllier said: "Robbie looked sharp, and
mentally he was extremely sharp. He could easily have said after that earlier miss that it
wasn't to be his day but he did not let himself down.
"He persisted and the goal he scored changed the face of the game for us."
Houllier added: "I know all eyes were on my team, with some beginners in the Premier
League. It's a league that's hard to get used to.
"But we played with pride and spirit right to the end and deserved our win."
The only black spot for Houllier was the first-half ankle injury sustained by £8million new boy
Dietmar Hamann.
Houllier said: "It does not look good, but we will have to wait and see after treatment on
Sunday.
"It was a bad injury and there is some ligament damage. But for us to have rejigged our
side to overcome that and still win was pleasing."
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