Liverpool 1-2 Barnsley
Saturday, 16 February 2008
FA Cup Fifth Round
Liverpool suffered one of their most embarrassing defeats under Rafa Benitez as they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Championship side Barnsley.
Dirk Kuyt had opened the scoring after good work from Ryan Babel down the left, but Stephen Foster equalised mid-way through the second half, and three minutes into injury time, Tykes captain Brian Howard hit the winner at the Kop end.
Teams
Liverpool: Itandje, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Benayoun, Lucas (Gerrard 75), Alonso, Babel (Kewell 69), Kuyt, Crouch
Unused subs: Martin, Pennant, Arbeloa
Bookings: Alonso, Carragher
Goals: Kuyt 32.
Barnsley: Steele, Hassell, Souza, Foster, Kozluk (Van Homoet 60), Devaney, De Silva, Howard, Leon (Campbell-Ryce 71), Ferenczi, Nardiello (Odejayi 55)
Unused subs: Coulson, Togwell
Booked: Van Homoet
Goals: Foster 57, Howard 90
Post Match Reaction:
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez: “I am really, really disappointed. We had chances, the keeper making fantastic saves and they scored in the last minute. Sometimes this happens in football, it is the cup. We had a lot of chances but it was the same situation as in other games, we cannot take our chances to finish games.
“I am really, really disappointed. It is difficult to explain, but it is the reality.”
“I can’t blame the keeper (Itandje). The team as a team was working really hard. In terms of the work rate, you cannot blame them. When you are creating so many chances, you must approach the next game doing just the same.'”
Barnsley manager Simon Davey: “There was a lack of discipline from our players, staying up there and putting in the back of net! We’re trying to keep our shape and then you’ve got ambitious players who want to go there and take the limelight!
“It’s fairytale stuff. As a player, I never played higher than League One. To take a team here against world-class players and a world-class manager and win, it’s the best for me. To score a last minute winner at the Kop end, that will live with the players all their lives.'”
Barnsley striker Brian Howard: “I was whingeing at the ref I was that tired I thought I’d just kick it and if it goes in the stand it’ll waste time. I’m still away with the fairies at the moment. I might be able to describe the feeling on Monday.'”
On-loan Barnsley keeper Luke Steele: “It’s been a couple of months since I played last, so obviously I was just so happy to be out there and at Anfield.”
BBC Stats: (Liverpool – Barnsley)
Possession: 60% – 40%
Shots on target: 20 – 7
Shots off target: 11 – 4
Corners: 15 – 3
Fouls: 7 – 15
Attendance: 42,449
Referee: Martin Atkinson
