Already 19 points adrift of leaders Arsenal in the English Premier League table, Saturday's humiliation means his improbable hope of finishing the season with silverware now rests with the Champions League and tomorrow's visit of Inter Milan.

Against Barnsley, a team who are anchored in 14th spot in the second tier of English football, Benitez gambled and lost by leaving out goalkeeper Jose Reina, driving force Steven Gerrard, goal scorer Fernando Torres and midfield hardman Javier Mascherano.

French goalkeeper Charles Itandje, Reina's replacement, produced an unconvincing display and was blamed for letting in both of Barnsley's second-half goals.

Former Liverpool defender Tommy Smith, who captained the Reds to the 1971 league and Uefa Cup double, was particularly critical of Benitez.

'He said Cup competitions are always dangerous. So why on earth didn't Benitez put a strong team out against Barnsley?' he told the Daily Mail.

'How on earth does Benitez think he's going to win stuff if he puts a second-class team out?

'I don't think he's even got a strong first XI, so how could he leave Reina, Gerrard and Mascherano out?

'The crowd booed everybody at the end and quite rightly.

'How on earth could Gerrard sit on the bench for 75 minutes and then Benitez talks about missed chances. Well, they've gone. You can't score after the game finishes.'

But Benitez demanded respect for his record at Liverpool after guiding the Merseyside outfit to two Champions League finals in the past three years - including winning the competition in 2005.

'How many other managers have done the same in their first three or four years at the club?' said the Spaniard, who has also steered Liverpool to 2006 FA Cup and Community Shield success, alongside the 2005 European Super Cup.

'People can talk about being successful, but nobody is winning trophies every year.

'To do that is really difficult, so I think we are in a really good position with a very young squad. I have a lot of confidence in the team for the future.'

But confidence in him is running out fast and his time at Anfield will surely hinge on the result against Inter.