Liverpool’s starting XI from Barnsley FA Cup humiliation and what they’re doing now

Liverpool face Barnsley in the FA Cup – an encounter which is responsible for one of the biggest upsets in the history of the competition

It has been 18 years since Liverpool were humiliated in the FA Cup, with Barnsley beating them 2-1 Anfield. Although Steve Gerrard was on the bench for the encounter, Rafa Benitez was still able to field a team of Champions League-winners but it wasn’t enough to edge past The Tykes.

Despite Dirk Kuyt putting Liverpool ahead, goals from Stephen Foster and Brian Howard resulted in one of the biggest FA Cup upsets ever. Barnsley’s goalkeeper Luke Steele was signed on an emergency loan from West Brom and put in a stunning performance to keep out Liverpool’s superstars. Bearing in mind, this was just three years after Liverpool had completed the miracle of Istanbul.

Liverpool face Barnsley in the third round of the FA Cup on Monday night and south Yorkshire outfit will be dreaming of re-creating this incredible result.

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Ahead of the game, the Echo takes a look at the Liverpool players that lost on that fateful day and what they’re up to nowadays.

Goalkeeper on the day was Cameroonian international Charles Itandje. He is now 43-years-old and most recently, he has been listed as the goalkeeping coach of FC Versailles.

The two centre-backs were Sami Hyypia and Jamie Carragher. Finnish legend Hyypia dabbled in management with Bayer Leverkusen, Brighton and Zurich but has not managed for over five years. He now spends his time as an official Liverpool ambassador and engages in motor sport activities. Carragher has become a broadcasting legend and regularly works with Sky and CBS.

Running the channels from deep were Steve Finnan and John Arne Riise. The latter has stayed involved in football and managed Norwegian side Avaldsnes in 2023 and is a regular on the Liverpool Legends circuit.

Finnan has been involved in the property business and lived his life largely off-grid since retiring. However, he entered a legal battle with his own brother and is now reportedly facing bankruptcy.

A cult hero at Liverpool, Yossi Benayoun went on to play for Chelsea and Arsenal, enjoying a decent career at the elite level of the game, he retired in 2019 and his most recent job was sporting director of the Israel national team. He stepped down from that in 2024.

In the middle of the park it was Xabi Alonso and Lucas Leiva. Alonso is the manager of Real Madrid at the moment and enjoyed a stellar period with Bayer Leverkusen. Lucas retired in 2023 due to a heart condition and is now enjoying retirement.

Ryan Babel occupied the opposite flank and only retired at the end of 2024. He has a massive following on YouTube and Instagram and is also closely connected with the fashion industry.

Peter Crouch and Dirk Kuyt were paired together up top. Crouch is a huge TV personality who features on TNT Sports, with a very successful podcast – The Peter Crouch Podcast. Alongside Carragher he has probably been the most successful out of this team.

Kuyt has been in football management since he retired. After work with ADO Den Haag and Beerschot, he was appointed head coach of FC Dordrecht in summer 2025.

Gerrard and Harry Kewell were the only substitutes used. Gerrard has managed Rangers, Aston Villa and more recently – Al-Ettifaq. He left that role in January 2025 and is now looking for his next challenge.

Kewell has been a constant in management since 2017. He’s worked with Crawley Town, Notts County, Oldham Athletic and Barnet. He then went to Japan for a new challenge, working with Yokohama F. Marinos before becoming head coach of Vietnamese club Hanoi FC in October 2025.

Starting XI vs Barnsley in 2008: Itandje; Finnan, Carragh, Hypia, Riise; The Being of Anoins, Alonsos, Babel; figure out, Crouch