Manager Rafael Benitez was left "stunned and bitterly frustrated" after Liverpool were dumped out of the FA Cup by Championship side Barnsley.Captain Steve Howard's injury-time strike saw the Tykes pull off a huge cup shock, equalling their best run in the competition since 1999 when they also reached the quarter-finals.

The Reds have now lost to four lower division sides at Anfield in the FA Cup since 1992. Bolton, Blackburn and Bristol City all achieved the feet before Barnsley.

Graeme Souness lost his job as a result of the Bristol City defeat, and this latest setback casts a dark cloud over Benitez's future at the club.

Over the last few months, Liverpool's form has slumped alarmingly. Now they only have the Champions League left to play for, and Inter Milan are the daunting opponents at Anfield on Tuesday.

Benitez said: "I do not think the pressure on me is any different. When you lose there is always pressure.

"Frankly I am stunned and bitterly frustrated. The team are very upset.

"But we made so many chances and their 'keeper was the man of the match. I lost count of the times the ball was kicked off their line.

"We were ahead at the break and should have got a killer second goal. It is difficult to explain how we do not score from so many opportunities.

"You cannot blame any one player, but now we have to look to the next game against Inter. We cannot change anything now about Barnsley, we have to concentrate on putting things right in the next match.

"You cannot allow yourself to become down, we have to concentrate and pull together as a team."

Barnsley manager Simon Davey labelled the result the "best moment of my football career".

The Swansea-born boss, who is in his first management position having previously been on the coach staff at Preston, masterminded Barnsley's fifth-round triumph against the club he supported as a boy and could not contain his delight.

Davey said: "It is very hard to put this into words. This is what dreams are made of.

"To bring my team to Anfield, and for them to score the winning goal with the last kick in injury-time is wonderful.

"I never played at a high level as a player and this is the height of my coaching career, so it's fair to say that it is the best moment of my football career."

Howard's last-ditch winner came seconds after being denied a penalty.

The midfielder said: "It was a certain penalty, I have seen it since on the TV monitor, and my ankle was grabbed by someone's hand."

That someone was Sami Hyypia, but an enraged Howard won the ball back and blasted it past reserve goalkeeper Charles Itandje.

Dirk Kuyt had put Liverpool ahead before the break, and on-loan stopper Luke Steele produced a string of wonder saves to keep Barnsley in the tie before Stephen Foster headed the equaliser.

Steele only joined Barnsley on Thursday as an emergency loan from West Brom with regular number one Heinz Muller out with a knee injury and Tony Warner cup tied.

"Luke was sensational. He produced a long list of world-class saves and kept us in the game. But we all worked hard and got our rewards," added Davey.

"Howard was the one fouled in the box, but he wasn't sulking or complaining, he just got up and won the ball back before belting it into the bottom corner.

"Who do we want now? I don't know, but there are lots of Championship sides through already and maybe we could get Bristol Rovers and then there will be one of us in the semi-finals."

Howard, meanwhile, was pleased to have the chance to advertise the quality of players operating below the top flight.

"We showed that there are good players in the lower

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