Liverpool report from their site

<table width="100%" border="0"><tbody><tr><td class="headline" style="width: 81%" align="center" bgcolor="#f3f3f3">LIVERPOOL 1 - 2 BARNSLEY
<span class="small">Saturday 16 February 2008 15:00 , FA Cup 5th Round </span></td></tr><tr><td class="med" colspan="2"><p class="headline">LFC 1-2 BARNSLEY: THE REPORT </p><p class="medline">Liverpool have crashed out of the FA Cup following an injury time stunner from Barnsley captain Brian Howard. </p><p class="med">The 25-yard winner came after Stephen Foster levelled Dirk Kuyt's first-half opener.

Benitez's side now have just the Champions League in their sights if 2007-08 is to end in glory.

The Reds will now have to pick themselves up for the arrival of Italy's runaway leaders, Inter Milan - and they'll have to play better than they did against a team lying 14th in the English Championship.

Liverpool might still be in the FA Cup had numerous chances not once again gone begging.

A low drive from John Arne Riise, a tame chest and volley from Kuyt and a Peter Crouch header which dropped harmlessly wide - all within the first 12 minutes.

Next Dutch duo Ryan Babel and Kuyt combined well before teeing up Lucas for what turned out to be a blaze over.

Yossi Benayoun was taking up some great positions and it was his movement that created a decent chance for Crouch on 18 minutes. The big man controlled well after receiving the ball 10 yards from goal but his shot was palmed away well by Barnsley debutant Luke Steele.

Still the chances continued to be wasted. Babel was next to have a pop after beating his man in the box, but his effort was too close to the keeper.

Then, a scare at the other end when Hyypia lingered on the ball and allowed Daniel Nardiello through on goal. Thankfully, with 6,000 away fans glaring down at him from the Anfield Road, the Welshman had a rush of blood to the head.

Back at the Kop end Xabi Alonso, who required stitches during his 150th Liverpool appearance following a clash of heads with Lucas, forced a fine diving save out of Steele with a curler from 25 yards.

A lot has been said about the importance of scoring the first goal recently, and it finally came on 32 minutes after great wingplay down the left from Babel.

The number 18 left his man for dead before pulling back to Kuyt, who couldn't miss from close range after losing marker Stephen Foster. The striker's right-footed tap-in was his first goal since early December.

But if Anfield thought the floodgates would now open, they were wrong. Just one more chance of note came before the interval, Crouch getting on the end of a decent cross from the right before asking a question of the excellent Steele.

Babel set about causing more havoc down the left with a couple of weaving runs straight from the restart. The only damaged caused, however, was to Bobby Hassell's chances of becoming a father after a ferocious strike into the defender's crown jewels.

Fortunately for him, his teammates were about to deliver a perfect tonic. Slapdash defending allowed Anderson De Silva to swing in a wicked ball from the right, which Stephen Foster redirected beyond the despairing hands of Charles Itandje.

Here we go again, thought the home faithful. If only they knew.

Liverpool were immediately presented with a gilt-edged chance to restore their lead, but first Benayoun and then Crouch contrived to miss when it seemed easier to find the net.

Another inviting opportunity fell to Hyypia minutes later after Barnsley failed to deal with a well-flighted corner. The subsequent block prompted groans of frustration from the Kop.

A Lucas header tipped onto the bar, Benayoun firing a low shot wide after evading countless challenged. Fingernails were doubtless at a premium among the 4,000 Tykes watching on a big screen back at Oakwell.

The Yorkshiremen were being forced deeper and deeper, though the occasional counter-attack hinted at what was to come. Jamal Campbell-Ryce forced Itandje into hasty challenge which, on another day, could have resulted in an early bath.

Crouch skewed another golden opportunity while substitute Harry Kewell was unlucky to have a fine volley tipped over. Still the side that lost 3-0 to Plymouth on Tuesday hung on.

More heroics were around the corner as Hassell went from aching balls to golden balls with last-ditch tackle to deny Kuyt.

Then it happened. On 93 minutes. Barnsley got the winner through captain and top scorer Howard, who, after being denied a legitimate penalty, beat the unfortunate Itandje with a 25-yard volley.

Afterwards, visiting manager Simon Davey attributed the winner to a lack of discipline from his players, who he expected to hang on for a draw.

For a man who supported Liverpool as a boy, it was fairytale stuff. Only in the FA Cup... </p><p class="subsection">Teams</p><p class="med">Liverpool: Itandje, Riise, Hyypia, Carragher (captain), Finnan, Babel, Alonso, Leiva, Benayoun, Crouch, Kuyt. Subs - Gerrard, Kewell, Arbeloa, Pennant, Martin

Barnsley: Steele, Kozluk, Foster, Souza, Hassell, Leon, Howard (captain), De Silva, Devaney, Nardiello, Ferenczi. Subs - Togwell, Van Homoet, Coulson, Campbell-Ryce, Odejayi

Referee: Unknown

Conditions: Freezing

Attendance: Unknown

Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Sami Hyypia </p></td></tr></tbody></table>

 

"Slapdash defending allowed Anderson De Silva to swing in a wicked ball from the right"

"Jamal Campbell-Ryce forced Itandje into hasty challenge which, on another day, could have resulted in an early bath."


Referee and attendance - unknown? Are you sure this was from the official site?


Slapdash reporting as well - there you go DB.....other sites make mistakes as well!

 

Surprised they havnt given Tommy Smith motm

 

RE: Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Sami Hyypia

agreed - thought their whole defence was a shambles, especially down the middle.

 

Volley from Howard?

Didn't realise his goal was a volley.

They had probably already left the ground by this stage so just guessed what the goal was like.

 

"Afterwards, visiting manager Simon Davey attributed the winner to a lack of discipline from his players, who he expected to hang on for a draw."


Haha