Liverpool 1 - 2 Barnsley

Liverpool 1-2 Barnsley

Updated: February 16, 2008, 12:34 PM ET

A sensational injury-time winner from Brian Howard sent Liverpool crashing out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 defeat to Barnsley at Anfield and increased the pressure on manager Rafael Benitez.

The Reds led through Dirk Kuyt's first goal since December - but on-loan goalkeeper Luke Steele produced a string of outstanding saves on his debut to keep the Coca-Cola Championship side in the contest.

And, after Stephen Foster headed Barnsley level just before the hour mark, Howard stunned the home side with his late winner.

• Davey in dreamland

Liverpool left captain Steven Gerrard on the bench and rested Javier Mascherano, Jose Reina and the almost fit Fernando Torres for this tie, with Tuesday's visit of Inter Milan clearly figuring in Benitez's thoughts.

French goalkeeper Charles Itandje got another run-out, while Jamie Carragher captained the side.

Steele, who arrived as an emergency loan from West Brom due to first-choice Heinz Muller's injury and replacement Tony Warner's ineligibility proved to be an inspired acquisition while former Everton midfielder Anderson De Silva was included.

Simon Davey's team had tremendous support at Anfield, with 7,000 Tykes making themselves heard in the Anfield Road end.

In the second minute they were almost celebrating a goal when Istvan Ferenczi's header was blocked by Carragher.

But John Arne Riise and Lucas saw long-range efforts fly wide at the other end, Peter Crouch headed past a post from Steve Finnan's cross, before Kuyt failed to hit the target from Yossi Benayoun's cross.

In the 18th minute Crouch went close with an angled effort that Steele needed to be at full-stretch to touch wide.

Ryan Babel got into the box on the right to fire in a shot that Steele held - but Barnsley had a great chance to opening the scoring in the 28th minute when Daniel Nardiello robbed Sami Hyypia before racing into the box and forcing Itandje into a low save to his right.

Steele was in action again a minute later, clawing away an 18-yard effort from Xabi Alonso - and soon after the Kop let out a roar of relief when they took the lead with Kuyt's first goal since the Champions League win in Marseille in mid-December.

Xabi Alonso swept the ball out to Babel, who made ground into the box before pulling the ball back for the Dutch striker to sweep home from six yards.

Steele did well to keep out a Crouch header on the stroke of half-time - and the home side started the second period strongly with Benayoun and Babel going close.

Barnsley took off Nardiello and sent on Kayode Odejayi, giving Davey's team more of an aerial threat - and in the 56th minute it worked.

Martin Devaney launched an excellent cross on the run from the right, and defender Foster rose to power a header that Itandje got a hand to but could not stop crashing into the net.

Benayoun and Crouch had shots cleared off the line in quick succession, then Hyypia had two efforts blocked as Liverpool stormed forward.

Lucas saw a header turned onto the bar by Steele, who snaffled the rebound - then made another good save after Benayoun's run and shot.

Harry Kewell replaced Babel, before Gerrard was sent on for Lucas with 15 minutes remaining.

The England midfielder's first surging run covered 60 yards and won his team a corner - but at the other end Itandje was looking anything but comfortable.

He clattered into Odejayi outside the box, and then palmed away a Howard effort.

Kewell had two efforts blocked, then clipped the bar from 25 yards - but all the noise was coming from the visiting fans.

Steele then made a marvellous save to turn over a Kewell hook, and Crouch had the ball taken off his foot in the act of shooting.

The same thing happening to Kuyt seconds after - with Dennis Souza again the defender with the right timing.

Carragher was booked three minutes from time - a caution which will see him banned against Middlesbrough next weekend.

But worse was to follow in the second minute of injury-time when Howard found space on the edge of the box to drill home the winner.

The Yorkshire fans erupted, and they had just 30 seconds to wait for the final whistle and confirmation of a famous victory.

Davey in dreamland

Barnsley manager Simon Davey admitted Brian Howard's injury-time winner which knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup was 'a fairytale'.

Davey told Sky Sports News: 'It's a fairytale, it's what dreams are made of - he's scored the winner in an FA Cup tie at the Kop end.'

He added: 'Credit to the players, they have been fantastic from the first minute and now they have got their rewards - they are in the next round.

'I always thought we would be in the game. We kept it tight, at half-time we were 1-0 down and if you get one chance and stick it away, you have got a chance. We kept it going and scored two great goals. I am pleased for them.'

Barnsley goalkeeper Luke Steele was making his debut for the club on loan.

'It's come on his debut at Anfield in the fifth round. He pulled off some 'worldies'.

'Every player has stood up... it's a great day for the supporters and the board. Liverpool are a good side and put us under pressure. There were some fantastic last-ditch tackles in the box, and I thought it was a penalty at the end.'

Match-winner Howard described the 'best feeling' of his career.

'We were hanging on defending, the 'keeper had an unbelievable debut then we nicked it at the end,' he said.

As for the goal, Howard said: 'I thought I should have had a penalty at first - I was busy whingeing - then the ball fell to me and I thought about nothing but striking it.

'It's probably the best feeling I've ever had in football. I can't even describe it. I'm still away with the fairies at the moment.

'It was a real team effort today.'

Reds boss Rafael Benitez admitted his side's profligacy was costly yet again this season.

'We had a lot of chances but it was the same situation as in other games, we cannot take our chances to finish games. Today was the same,' he said.

'I am really, really disappointed. We had chances, the keeper (Steele) making fantastic saves and they scored in the last minute.

'Sometimes this happens in football, it is the cup.

'It is difficult to explain, but it is the reality.'