Barnsley shock Liverpool

Rafa Benitez's squad-rotation policy came under severe criticism today as he rested several key players as Barnsley knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup in the fifth round stage with a shock 2-1 victory at Anfield.

Rafa Benitez' men currently lye fifth in the Premier League three points behind arch rivals Everton and the same margin outside a Champions League place. They face Inter Milan in midweek in the first knock-out round of the Champions League and if today's performance is to go by they will not be in the next round of that tournament.

Reds boss Benitez left skipper Steven Gerrard on the bench, while Javier Mascherano, Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina were all sat in the stands.

And the decision backfired badly when Stephen Foster cancelled out Dirk Kuyt's strike, before Brian Howard netted a dramatic late winner.