It was a day when Yorkshire grit faced Merseyside grandeur, and against all odds, the grit triumphed. Barnsley, a Championship side, travelled to Anfield to take on five-time European champions Liverpool in the fifth round of the FA Cup. What followed was a classic David versus Goliath tale that will be etched into Barnsley folklore forever.
The Build-Up
Simon Davey’s Barnsley side arrived as heavy underdogs. To make matters worse, regular keeper Heinz Müller was out with a cruciate ligament injury, and backup Tony Warner was cup-tied. Enter Luke Steele, signed on an emergency loan from West Brom. Thrown straight into the lion’s den, Steele faced a Liverpool side brimming with international stars like Xabi Alonso, Jamie Carragher, and Dirk Kuyt. The Reds, under Rafa Benítez, were gearing up for a Champions League clash with Inter Milan just days away but still fielded a formidable XI.
With 6,000 Barnsley fans crammed into the Anfield Road end, the stage was set for a clash of worlds. As the teams lined up, the familiar strains of "You'll Never Walk Alone" reverberated around the stadium, sung passionately by the home fans. The anthem, an enduring symbol of Liverpool Football Club, added to the grandeur of the occasion.
The Match
Liverpool started brightly, and it wasn’t long before Steele was called into action. Time after time, the debutant thwarted Liverpool’s relentless attacks. Alonso’s curling effort? Saved. Peter Crouch’s towering header? Denied. Steele’s reflexes and bravery kept Barnsley in the game, as the visitors showed no signs of parking the bus.
Despite Steele’s heroics, Liverpool took the lead in the 32nd minute. Ryan Babel’s quick feet set up Kuyt, who calmly slotted home to make it 1-0. It looked like the floodgates might open, but Steele had other ideas.
The Fightback
Barnsley came out for the second half with renewed vigour. Just before the hour mark, the unthinkable happened. Martin Devaney whipped in a delicious cross, and Stephen Foster rose like a salmon to power a header past Charles Itandje. 1-1. The Anfield crowd, including those packed into the famous Spion Kop, was stunned. The 6,000 Tykes in the away end erupted in disbelief and joy.
Liverpool piled on the pressure, hitting the woodwork and forcing Steele into yet more acrobatics. Gerrard and Kewell came off the bench, but Barnsley stood firm. Bobby Hassell and Rob Kozluk threw themselves in front of everything Liverpool could muster, and when they didn’t, Steele was there to exasperate them further.
The Moment of Magic
Deep into stoppage time, with penalties looming, Kayode Odejayi showed his strength to hold off John Arne Riise and flick the ball into the path of Barnsley’s captain, Brian Howard. Using his quick feet, Howard surged forward and into the box before a clumsy challenge sent him tumbling to the ground. Barnsley’s players, fans, and bench erupted in appeals for a penalty, but referee Martin Atkinson wasn’t interested, waving the claims away.
The drama wasn’t over. As Liverpool tried to clear their lines, the ball fell back to Howard at the edge of the area. With calm determination and a touch of magic, Howard steadied himself, shrugged off the disappointment, and unleashed a blistering strike. The ball rocketed past Charles Itandje at the near post. 2-1 Barnsley. Pandemonium in the Anfield Road end. The travelling Tykes couldn’t believe it; Liverpool’s players looked shell-shocked.
Moments later, Martin Atkinson blew the final whistle. Barnsley had done it. They had taken on the mighty Liverpool at Anfield and won, securing a place in FA Cup folklore.
As Liverpool scrambled to clear their lines, the ball fell back to Howard. Picking it up on the edge of the box, Barnsley’s captain took a touch, steadied himself, and unleashed a thunderous strike that beat Itandje at his near post. 2-1. Pandemonium. The travelling Barnsley fans were in dreamland.
Seconds later, referee Martin Atkinson blew the final whistle. Barnsley had done it. Against all odds, they had knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup at Anfield.
The Aftermath
It was a day that cemented Luke Steele as an instant Barnsley hero. His saves were the foundation of a monumental upset. Stephen Foster’s equaliser and Brian Howard’s winner ensured Liverpool’s FA Cup dreams were shattered in dramatic fashion.
For Barnsley fans, it was a moment to savour. The FA Cup often delivers magic, but few occasions shine as brightly as this one. Years later, the phrase “Howard’s winner at Anfield” still brings a smile to every Tyke’s face.
Stats That Tell the Story
Final Score: Liverpool 1-2 Barnsley
Liverpool Goal: Dirk Kuyt (32’)
Barnsley Goals: Stephen Foster (57’), Brian Howard (90+2’)
Attendance: 42,449
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Liverpool Starting XI: Charles Itandje, Jamie Carragher, Steve Finnan, Sami Hyypiä, John Arne Riise, Lucas Leiva, Yossi Benayoun, Xabi Alonso, Ryan Babel, Dirk Kuyt, Peter Crouch.
Subs: David Martin, Álvaro Arbeloa, Steven Gerrard, Jermaine Pennant, Harry Kewell.
Barnsley Starting XI: Luke Steele, Dennis Souza, Stephen Foster, Bobby Hassell, Rob Kozluk, Anderson de Silva, Martin Devaney, Brian Howard, Diego León, István Ferenczi, Daniel Nardiello.
Barnsley: Sam Togwell, Marciano Van Homoet, Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Michael Coulson, Kayode Odejayi.
The Legacy
Ten years earlier, Barnsley’s Premier League side had famously won at Anfield. This victory, however, felt even sweeter. It wasn’t just the win; it was the manner of it. Steele’s debut performance remains one of the best goalkeeping displays in FA Cup history, and Howard’s strike is still talked about in pubs across Barnsley.
For Liverpool, it was a week to forget. The boos that echoed around Anfield were drowned out by the jubilation of the travelling Tykes. Barnsley’s journey that year would take them to the semi-finals, but it’s this afternoon on Merseyside that lives on as one of the greatest in the club’s history.
And for Barnsley fans? Well, they’ll never forget about the time they silenced the Kop.
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