Reds fail to make Steele buckle

LUKE STEELE had already earned himself lifelong notoriety among Liverpool supporters when he rubbed salt into Merseyside wounds on Saturday night. As if helping Barnsley to a famous victory at Anfield was not enough, the Tykes goalkeeper duly dedicated the triumph to his former Manchester United team-mates.

Steele’s previous Anfield memory had been tarnished by the horrendous leg injury Alan Smith suffered as Liverpool defeated their fierce rivals 1-0 at the same stage of the competition two years ago.

But the 23-year-old said that had been wiped away after marking his Barnsley debut with a man-of-a-match display which booked Simon Davey’s team a place in the quarter-finals at the expense of the seven-times winners.

Steele was the third-choice goalkeeper at Old Trafford behind Edwin van der Sar and Tim Howard before moving to West Brom. He only joined Barnsley on loan 48 hours before Saturday’s tie as Heinz Muller was injured and Tony Warner was cup-tied.

“I was at Anfield with United two years ago,” said Steele.

“Alan Smith broke his leg that day and I was in the stand as I was here as cover for Edwin van der Sar. That was a dreadful day as Smithy is a great lad and that was just terrible.

“We lost as well. They are my last memories of Anfield so it’s good to come here and wipe those away.

“I will go away and have fond memories now.

“I think the United lads will be pleased that I have helped to knock Liverpool out. I imagine I will have some texts from some of them when I turn my phone on.”

Barnsley’s surprise win came with a little help from Liverpool’s arch-rivals Everton.

The Championship club had used Everton’s new Finch Farm training base on the eve of the tie thanks to Davey’s relationship with David Moyes.

The pair were together at Preston North End before Davey’s playing career was cut short at the age of 27.

Barnsley were backed by 6,000 travelling fans at Anfield including one of their most famous supporters — former cricket umpire Dickie Bird.

“I have supported Barnsley for 65 years and that is the best result I have ever seen,” said the 74-year-old, who was born in the south Yorkshire town.

“Liverpool couldn’t put the ball in the net. It’s as simple as that. Our goalkeeper did very well, but it was an amazing performance all round.

“I was more nervous watching that then walking out in a Test match at Calcutta in front of 120,000!”