Liverpool reached the last 16 of the FA Cup courtesy of a Yossi Benayoun hat-trick - but little Havant and Waterlooville took all the accolades as they went down 5-2 at Anfield.

The Blue Star Conference South side twice led against a shell-shocked Liverpool, who were distinctly second best in the first half.

Richard Pacquette scored early on and a Martin Skrtel own goal again sent the Hampshire non-league side ahead.

But Liverpool clawed their way level before the break through Lucas and the first of Benayoun's treble - and dominated the second period.

• Proud Havant boss salutes Cup heroes

Benayoun scored two more goals and Peter Crouch added another at the end - but Havant and Waterlooville stood proud at the end, joining the list of non-league heroes who have graced this competition over the years.

Reds boss Rafael Benitez left Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Jamie Carragher on the bench, while reserve goalkeeper Charles Itandje started in place of Jose Reina - and probably wished he hadn't.

The same applied to debutant Skrtel, who scored an own goal and looked lost as the Hampshire side piled in their set-pieces.

Liverpool's fans applauded every single Havant player's name when they were announced, and the non-league club's fans sung happily along with 'You'll Never Walk Alone'.

Havant were undaunted early on. Captain James Collins clattered Mascherano, Rocky Baptiste knocked over Sami Hyypia and Alfie Potter - Harry to his mates - saw a shot deflected wide.

Benayoun headed Pennant's cross wide, but Havant were intent on making their mark - and in the eighth minute they scored.

Pacquette harassed Skrtel into conceding a corner, and when Mo Harkin planted it into the six-yard box, former QPR player Pacquette headed it powerfully past goalkeeper Charles Itandje.

Liverpool were stunned and while the Kop applauded loudly, the fans of the non-league club erupted.

John Arne Riise had two efforts blocked, Benayoun shot wide, but the anxiety grew, as did Havant's confidence.

The visitors should have scored again in the 23rd minute when Itandje twice fumbled as Harkin's free-kick flew wildly around the box and when the keeper fell over, Shaun Wilkinson hooked over an open goal from 10 yards.

Havant held their lead for 16 minutes until Ryan Babel laid the ball back to Lucas, and the Brazilian curled a fine goal into the top corner from 25 yards.

But the visitors were ahead again on the half hour when Potter, on loan from Peterborough, capitalised on a blunder by Steve Finnan and fired in a shot that Skrtel deflected wide of Itandje.

The non-leaguers, organised at the back, were humiliating supposed top-class players and Carragher and Torres were soon warming up.

Havant lost plumber Phil Warner with a leg injury five minutes before the break - to be replaced by dustman Tony Taggart.

But a minute before the break Liverpool managed to claw themselves level when Jermaine Pennant set up Benayoun, who created a yard of space to fire in a right-footer that gave goalkeeper Kevin Scriven no chance.

At half-time the question was did Havant have any more to give. Sadly for the romantic, the answer was no - tiredness took its toll and Liverpool escaped.

Havant started the second period on the back foot - and in the 55th minute they were punished when Pennant crossed from the right and Benayoun had time to turn and fire into the roof of the net.

Rocky Baptiste, the taxi-driving Liverpool fan, was withdrawn by Havant two minutes later, with former Tottenham youngster Jamie Slabber taking over.

And just before the hour Benayoun completed his hat-trick, firing in on the rebound after Ryan Babel's shot came back off Scriven.

In the 72nd minute Dirk Kuyt replaced Benayoun and two minutes later Wilkinson went off, with Charlie Oatway taking over.

Carragher eventually came on in place of Hyypia on 84 minutes, with Gerrard following for Mascherano two minutes later.

Although Neil Sharp forced a fine save from Itandje, Gerrard set up Crouch for a tap in a minute from time.

The dream was over for Havant - but they had given Liverpool the shock of their lives.