By CHRIS BASCOMBE at Anfield
RAFA BENITEZ has demanded revolution from the moment he arrived at Anfield.
Today, even his most loyal supporters cannot avoid the conclusion one of those changes is set to be in the manager's seat.
The Kop boss began the day saying he would know within five days if his team had "turned the corner".
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After five minutes of Barnsley's epic win at Anfield yesterday, it was obvious Liverpool had hit another cul-de-sac.
Now Benitez finds himself in danger of being driven out of town as the Kop's fury was turned from the boardroom to the pitch.
The Spanish coach's persecution complex has been intensifying by the week, but he will struggle to find anyone to blame for this atrocity accept for his misfiring players and another baffling team selection.
It was a catastrophic decision, in fact inexcusable, to rest keeper Pepe Reina, even more so than skipper Steven Gerrard.
Reserve Charles Itandje isn't just an accident waiting to happen, he ought to be wearing an ambulance siren on his head.
He was hopeless against the minnows of Havant and Waterlooville in the last round — but this was an exhibition of uselessness barely witnessed in a Liverpool player.
He flapped at every cross and offered hardly any resistance when Stephen Foster equalised on 57 minutes and Brian Howard struck a famous winner for the visitors.
How this clown was ever allowed near a Liverpool shirt is a matter for Benitez to explain.
But having been caught in no-man's land for Foster's header, he was vulnerable against each Tykes attack in the closing minutes.
The French stopper was even fortunate to still be on the pitch after an ugly tackle on Kayode Odejayi. Ref Martin Atkinson, who waved away a stonewall penalty appeal for a foul by Sami Hyypia on match-winner Howard seconds before he struck, gave Barnsley nothing.
Contrast the shambles of Itandje with Barnsley hero Luke Steele.
Had the keepers swapped sides, this would have been a Kop rout.
A week ago, Steele was struggling to get a game for West Brom reserves.
But this was an afternoon he will never forget.
Alongside defensive titan Dennis Souza, he was inspirational, denying a late flurry from Anfield's strikers and paving the way for the injury-time winner from Howard that stunned, but didn't completely surprise, an increasingly hostile crowd.
Benitez pointed to the series of missed chances, as well as the Barnsley No1's display, as he insisted uncharitably his side deserved to win.
Most extraordinarily, he even defended the performance of his keeper.
Benitez said: "I'm frustrated because throughout the last month we have been saying the same thing.
"We had a lot of chances but their keeper was man of the match. We created a lot, so it's difficult to explain how we lost.
"We must be more ruthless. I don't regret changing the keeper. If we had taken our chances, it would be different. Their keeper was fantastic.
"They didn't have so many chances so I don't blame our keeper. I think we deserved to win."
Despite the bravado, the crescendo of boos at full-time showed eactly that the Anfield faithful are in no mood for excuses.
The FA Cup was supposed to be Liverpool's salvation in a miserable season.
There was little clue of the drama to follow when Dirk Kuyt ended a drought that lasted longer than a hosepipe ban to put Liverpool ahead on 32 minutes, converting Ryan Babel's cross.
In fact, for 45 minutes most of the passion, excitement, twists and turns were courtesy of the performance of Barnsley fanatic Harold ‘Dickie' Bird.
Cricket's most notorious umpire arrived late into the Anfield Directors' Box to watch his beloved Tykes.
And he endeavoured to kick every ball thereafter.
When the full-time whistle blew, only his excited fellow Yorkshiremen restrained him from jumping onto the pitch to join the celebrations.
Yes, Barnsley rode their luck at times. Who doesn't in cup football?
But as Liverpool's search for a winner became more frantic, so the threat of Barnsley's counter-attack increased.
It took Benitez 73 minutes to recognise what most Liverpool fans have known for the past seven years — without Gerrard, such miserable performances are always more likely.
After being rested for the visit of Inter Milan on Tuesday, he was summoned from the bench, but even he could not alter the mood.
Steele's heroics denied Crouch, Hyypia, Kuyt and Harry Kewell, as Liverpool twice hit the bar.
But Itandje's fumbling saves and erratic strolls from his line also kept the Kop nerves jangling.
Then Howard danced his way into the box in the third minute of added time to send 6,000 away fans into orbit.
Barnsley did not steal victory here. They richly deserved it.
Boss Simon Davey, in his first management position having previously been on the coaching staff at Preston, 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."
Liverpool still have the Champions League to look forward to, and given their history in fighting back from positions of weakness, this may yet prove as bad a result for the Italians at it was for Benitez.
There is no doubt the siege mentality and culture of paranoia he is nurturing will head into overdrive over the next 72 hours as the debris of this defeat is assessed.
As ever, The Kop will rally around their team, but anything other than a similar response from his players on Tuesday will surely spell the end of his reign.
He added: "Everyone is disappointed, but we can't change it now. Just think about the next game."
Rafa has asked everyone and for everything to change at Liverpool.
Today, he should listen to those who have wanted the best for him since he arrived at Valencia, and take this advice.
It is time to look in the mirror.
RAFA BENITEZ has demanded revolution from the moment he arrived at Anfield.
Today, even his most loyal supporters cannot avoid the conclusion one of those changes is set to be in the manager's seat.
The Kop boss began the day saying he would know within five days if his team had "turned the corner".
CLICK HERE FOR MORE REACTION FROM THE GAME
After five minutes of Barnsley's epic win at Anfield yesterday, it was obvious Liverpool had hit another cul-de-sac.
Now Benitez finds himself in danger of being driven out of town as the Kop's fury was turned from the boardroom to the pitch.
The Spanish coach's persecution complex has been intensifying by the week, but he will struggle to find anyone to blame for this atrocity accept for his misfiring players and another baffling team selection.
It was a catastrophic decision, in fact inexcusable, to rest keeper Pepe Reina, even more so than skipper Steven Gerrard.
Reserve Charles Itandje isn't just an accident waiting to happen, he ought to be wearing an ambulance siren on his head.
He was hopeless against the minnows of Havant and Waterlooville in the last round — but this was an exhibition of uselessness barely witnessed in a Liverpool player.
He flapped at every cross and offered hardly any resistance when Stephen Foster equalised on 57 minutes and Brian Howard struck a famous winner for the visitors.
How this clown was ever allowed near a Liverpool shirt is a matter for Benitez to explain.
But having been caught in no-man's land for Foster's header, he was vulnerable against each Tykes attack in the closing minutes.
The French stopper was even fortunate to still be on the pitch after an ugly tackle on Kayode Odejayi. Ref Martin Atkinson, who waved away a stonewall penalty appeal for a foul by Sami Hyypia on match-winner Howard seconds before he struck, gave Barnsley nothing.
Contrast the shambles of Itandje with Barnsley hero Luke Steele.
Had the keepers swapped sides, this would have been a Kop rout.
A week ago, Steele was struggling to get a game for West Brom reserves.
But this was an afternoon he will never forget.
Alongside defensive titan Dennis Souza, he was inspirational, denying a late flurry from Anfield's strikers and paving the way for the injury-time winner from Howard that stunned, but didn't completely surprise, an increasingly hostile crowd.
Benitez pointed to the series of missed chances, as well as the Barnsley No1's display, as he insisted uncharitably his side deserved to win.
Most extraordinarily, he even defended the performance of his keeper.
Benitez said: "I'm frustrated because throughout the last month we have been saying the same thing.
"We had a lot of chances but their keeper was man of the match. We created a lot, so it's difficult to explain how we lost.
"We must be more ruthless. I don't regret changing the keeper. If we had taken our chances, it would be different. Their keeper was fantastic.
"They didn't have so many chances so I don't blame our keeper. I think we deserved to win."
Despite the bravado, the crescendo of boos at full-time showed eactly that the Anfield faithful are in no mood for excuses.
The FA Cup was supposed to be Liverpool's salvation in a miserable season.
There was little clue of the drama to follow when Dirk Kuyt ended a drought that lasted longer than a hosepipe ban to put Liverpool ahead on 32 minutes, converting Ryan Babel's cross.
In fact, for 45 minutes most of the passion, excitement, twists and turns were courtesy of the performance of Barnsley fanatic Harold ‘Dickie' Bird.
Cricket's most notorious umpire arrived late into the Anfield Directors' Box to watch his beloved Tykes.
And he endeavoured to kick every ball thereafter.
When the full-time whistle blew, only his excited fellow Yorkshiremen restrained him from jumping onto the pitch to join the celebrations.
Yes, Barnsley rode their luck at times. Who doesn't in cup football?
But as Liverpool's search for a winner became more frantic, so the threat of Barnsley's counter-attack increased.
It took Benitez 73 minutes to recognise what most Liverpool fans have known for the past seven years — without Gerrard, such miserable performances are always more likely.
After being rested for the visit of Inter Milan on Tuesday, he was summoned from the bench, but even he could not alter the mood.
Steele's heroics denied Crouch, Hyypia, Kuyt and Harry Kewell, as Liverpool twice hit the bar.
But Itandje's fumbling saves and erratic strolls from his line also kept the Kop nerves jangling.
Then Howard danced his way into the box in the third minute of added time to send 6,000 away fans into orbit.
Barnsley did not steal victory here. They richly deserved it.
Boss Simon Davey, in his first management position having previously been on the coaching staff at Preston, 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."
Liverpool still have the Champions League to look forward to, and given their history in fighting back from positions of weakness, this may yet prove as bad a result for the Italians at it was for Benitez.
There is no doubt the siege mentality and culture of paranoia he is nurturing will head into overdrive over the next 72 hours as the debris of this defeat is assessed.
As ever, The Kop will rally around their team, but anything other than a similar response from his players on Tuesday will surely spell the end of his reign.
He added: "Everyone is disappointed, but we can't change it now. Just think about the next game."
Rafa has asked everyone and for everything to change at Liverpool.
Today, he should listen to those who have wanted the best for him since he arrived at Valencia, and take this advice.
It is time to look in the mirror.
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