Liverpool 1, Barnsley 2

Feb 16 2008 By Tony Barrett

LIVERPOOL were sensationally knocked out of the FA Cup by Championship side Barnsley in one of the shocks of this year's competition.

LIVERPOOL were sensationally knocked out of the FA Cup by Championship side Barnsley in one of the shocks of this year's competition.

The visitors scored two second half goals to overturn a first half lead given to the Reds by Dirk Kuyt.

Sami Hyypia was back in the starting line up having missed last weekend’s goal less draw at Chelsea with a slight hip injury.

But Fernando Torres was not risked with the Champions League last 16 tie against Inter Milan looming large. The Spanish striker was joined on the sidelines by Pepe Reina and Javier Mascherano who were also given a breather ahead of Tuesday night’s game.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez has called on his fringe players to make the most of whatever first team opportunities come their way and Xabi Alonso was among those who were looking to make a big impression against the Tykes.

Peter Crouch is one player who has come back into the reckoning in recent weeks and he was first to test Barnsley keeper Luke Steele with a close range volley which the on-loan stopper did well to divert for a corner.

Ryan Babel was next to try his luck but his effort was far too close to Steele who made a comfortable save.

Barnsley then created their first real chance of the game after 27 minutes when Hyypia was robbed on the edge of his own box, allowing Nardiello to race clear and shoot on goal only for Charles Itandje to save well down to his right.

That scare for Liverpool showed that Barnsley were not about to let their more illustrious opponents to have it all the way and the Reds certainly knew they were in a game.

Alonso then tested Steele again with a wonderful curling effort and two minutes later Liverpool took the lead when Dirk Kuyt scored his first goal in two months following excellent work by Babel who beat two men before pulling the ball back for his fellow countryman who tucked the chance away with ease.

Liverpool could have doubled their lead on the stroke of half time when Crouch’s header was brilliantly saved by Steele.

Against all the odds, Barnsley got an equaliser after 56 minutes when Stephen Foster powered home a close range header from Martin Devaney’s pinpoint cross.

That goal sent shockwaves around Anfield and Liverpool immediately stepped up a gear.

Within a minute of conceding the Reds could have restored their lead as first Yossi Benayoun and then Crouch had efforts blocked on the goal line.

Lucas then missed a free header right in front of goal as Liverpool piled on the pressure.

The Brazilian did not have long to wait for another opportunity though and this time he made a much better connection only for Steele to tip his header against the bar.

It was all Liverpool at this stage and Benayoun was next to try his luck following a mazy dribble but Steele was again up to the task.

With 16 minutes left Benitez decided to unleash Steven Gerrard after growing tired of Liverpool’s failure to press home their advantage.

Gerrard replaced Lucas who had had a decent game at the heart of Liverpool’s midfield and the skipper was immediately in the thick of things, producing a typically lung busting run which forced an unproductive corner.

Barnsley were starting to look dangerous on the break and Itandje was called into action when he pushed aside a Brian Howard effort from just outside the box.

Substitute Harry Kewell was employing a shoot on sight policy and he could have won the game for Liverpool after 83 minutes when he sent a superb volley crashing against the crossbar.

Barnsley were somehow hanging on and Steele was having one of the games of his life with a save from Kuyt in the dying minutes being the highlight.

The visitors then scored an incredible winner when Howard struck in stoppage time.

LIVERPOOL: Itandje, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Benayoun, Lucas (Gerrard, 74), Alonso, Babel (Kewell, 69), Kuyt, Crouch.

BARNSLEY: Steele, Souza, Foster, De Silva, Nardiello (Odejayi, 54), Hassell, Devaney, Leon (Campbell-Ryce, 71), Ferenczi, Kozluk (Van Homoet, 59), Howard.

REFEREE: Martin Atkinson.