Liverpool FC 1, Reading 2 (aet): Reds' season of turmoil hits shocking new low with humiliating FA Cup exit to Reading

And it will serve only to cast further doubt over whether Rafael Benitez's side can afford to go without any major squad reinforcement this month as the Spaniard desperately aims to salvage the season - and possibly his job.

Let's make no bones about it. This was an absolutely pathetic performance from a Liverpool side that, already out of the Champions League and the race for the Premier League title, had talked up the importance of this competition.

So where was the urgency? Where was the passion? Where was the desire? And where was the quality?

Reading's problems hovering above the relegation zone of English football's second tier are such that they haven't even got a full-time manager, although caretaker Brian McDermott must surely be given the job on the strength of this result.

Yet Liverpool have made the Royals look Premier League material in their two meetings this month. And it has been a recurring theme this season, supposedly inferior opponents repeatedly given the chance to prosper.

That has happened far, far too often. So too has a failure to perform without the help of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, Liverpool's reliance on their stellar duo evident in the manner in which they let victory slip from their grasp with the pair having departed through injury.

Torres was first to depart on the half-hour with a twisted knee and was followed at half-time by Gerrard, who tweaked a hamstring. Both are major doubts for the weekend visit to Stoke City - the latest game that Benitez dare not lose.

The Spaniard has earned a tremendous amount of goodwill from supporters but the faith of even his most fervent backers is being tested to the very limit by the travails of the past six months.

There are completely no positives to be taken from last night's performance. Nothing. Which is exactly what Liverpool deserved.

To think they were within seconds of progress after being given the helping hand of Ryan Bertrand's 45th-minute own goal, only to press the self-destruct button in spectacular fashion when Yossi Benayoun clipped the heels of substitute Shane Long to give Gylfi Sigurdsson the chance to equalise from the spot.

Extra time merely brought extra misery with Long heading in the winner to consign Liverpool to a fifth defeat to a lower-league team in the FA Cup in the last 11 seasons - and earn Reading their first away win against top-flight opposition in the competition since 1902.

Even when Gerrard and Torres were on the pitch, Liverpool lacked the inspiration and quality to force penalties and the game was up long before the final whistle.

Despite prices being almost halved for last night's match, there were still plenty of empty seats at Anfield, the locals passing up on the opportunity to watch their team at a reduced rate. Maybe the stayaways knew what was coming.

While Reading not surprisingly kept faith in the starting line-up that secured a 1-1 draw in the initial tie 11 days ago, Liverpool made five changes with Alberto Aquilani, Diego Cavalieri, Benayoun, Daniel Agger and Philipp Degen all coming in.

As in the first game, Reading made light of their lowly league standing and sought to pressurise Liverpool at every opportunity.

They were aided by another poor showing from Benitez's side, who struggled to maintain any concerted possession and demonstrated an almost chronic lack of creativity against the most basic of organised defending.

That Reading didn't capitalise was down to some dismal finishing, most notably midway through the half when a break from the visitors saw Simon Church race down the right flank, cut inside Daniel Agger and send in a low cross to the far post where Grzegorz Rasiak, perhaps distracted by the nearby Jamie Carragher, contrived to spoon the ball over from four yards.

There was more of the same shortly afterwards when another lightning counter-attack ended with Jobi McAnuff, Liverpool's chief tormentor at the Madejski, centring from the right and Church failing to connect with a diving header with the goal gaping.

At the other end, Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici had to wait until the 41st minute before being called into any serious action, safely clutching a David Ngog shot after a decent run off the left wing from the striker, replacement for the stricken Torres.

However, the goal Reading had threatened finally arrived in first-half stoppage time. Unfortunately for the visitors, it was into their own net, Bertrand deflecting Gerrard's cross past Federici.

Gerrard's absence prompted a tactical reshuffle in the second half from Benitez, and their attacking efforts benefited from a switch to 4-4-2.

Kuyt hit a volley over on the turn from Benayoun's cross and, moments after being booked for simulation inside the area, Degen had a more legitimate claim for a penalty when tangling with Church.

Agger fizzed an effort wide from range after Aquilani's initial free-kick was blocked by the wall, and the Italian almost added a second on 70 minutes with a brave diving header from another Benayoun cross.

Liverpool were almost made to pay for not netting a second when, in the 80th minute, McAnuff pounced on a loose Aquilani pass just inside his own half and embarked on a direct run that took him past four defenders before sidefooting a shot inches wide.

But Reading eventually forced an extra half-hour with a penalty deep in injury time, Sigurdsson sending Cavalieri the wrong way from the spot after Benayoun had unwisely hacked at substitute Shane Long. The visitors then went ahead on 100 minutes when Bryn Gunnarsson tricked Emiliano Insua down the left and crossed inside the six-yard box for Long to head home.

Benayoun missed a chance to atone for his earlier error when he shot straight at Federici, Carragher shot over from 25 yards and Ngog swiped at a good opening, but the game was up for Liverpool.

Whether it is for Benitez remains to be seen.