Barnsley inflict one of the greatest ever FA Cup upsets
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The Tykes players savour the moment on Merseyside with the hoards of Barnsley fans after causing the shock of the day.
Barnsley giant-killer Brian Howard celebrated the injury-time goal that condemned Liverpool to an FA Cup fifth round humbling — then claimed under-pressure manager Rafael Benitez had made a calamitous error in resting Steven Gerrard until the final 15 minutes of yesterday's amazing upset at Anfield.
Now a shell-shocked Benitez has just two days to change the mood in the Liverpool camp before Tuesday night's Champions League showdown with Inter Milan.
Barnsley force the equaliser as Stephen Foster heads in Martin Devaney's excellent cross in the 57th minute.
As Championship side Barnsley celebrated securing a place in the quarter-finals with their 2-1 victory, Benitez knows that his future at the Premier League club may depend upon his side's ability to bounce back in Europe's biggest competition.
The taunts from Barnsley's match-winner last night rubbed salt in Liverpool's wounds. Howard said: "Benitez didn't play his strongest side against us. He was thinking about Inter Milan on Tuesday and it backfired.
"They are out of the FA Cup now and well behind in the Premier League, so they've got to produce in Europe."
A defiant Benitez defended his decision to leave Gerrard on the bench and star striker Fernando Torres — recovering from injury — in the stands.
Benitez said: "Torres wasn't fit and if you are playing at Anfield against Barnsley and you need to think about one player, well...last week people were talking about Xabi Alonso and he played today."
Asked if the extraordinary defeat piled more pressure on him personally, Benitez replied: "Pressure is always there. If you want to win games, you must try to change small things. But it was incredible how many chances we had, and if we get that many against Inter Milan, we will score goals. But we must show more confidence in front of goal."
Benitez insisted there had been nothing wrong with Liverpool's performance until it came to scoring.
He explained: "I have told the players that the work rate wasn't to blame. We cannot change this result now so we must approach the next game and make sure we take our chances. This is frustrating but their keeper was fantastic."
Liverpool are stunned in injury time as Brian Howard thumps in the winner from 20 yards to give Barnsley victory at Anfield.
Barnsley manager Simon Davey, a Liverpool supporter as a boy, said: "To come to a club I supported as a youngster and do this is just incredible — a dream."
Other FA Cup Results:
Saturday, 16 February 2008Cardiff 2-0 WolverhamptonChelsea 3-1 Huddersfield -
Benitez still dun admit he wrong. haiz...
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tat's the prob of benitez. too stubborn.
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Barnsley to win =$15..
but i buy 20 on it le
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So wad`s next??
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tats the sweetest thing
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congrats
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Originally posted by a-Lost-9uY:
Barnsley to win =$15..
but i buy 20 on it le
u must have won alot!
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Who's that keeper? Din know Pool had a black keeper
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But if Liverpool can't even beat a Championship side at home, then what chance of them taming Inter?
What glorious mess.
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nice score, now the next thing to guess is when he would be sacked.
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Originally posted by glacer:
Who's that keeper? Din know Pool had a black keeper
Charlie Itandje
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Originally posted by iceFatboy:
But if Liverpool can't even beat a Championship side at home, then what chance of them taming Inter?
What glorious mess.
The thing about Ah ben's Pool is... You don't know which Pool is gonna turn up... If you are lucky you will get the Premier League pool but if you are not lucky... The champions league Pool may turn up...Ah Ben like his team to be unpredictable thats why he alway change his lineup...
