By Mark Lawrenson BBC Sport football expert

Rafael Benitez got it wrong - and the consequences were dire

Liverpool conceded six goals at home for the first time in 77 years as Arsenal inflicted a humiliating 6-3 defeat on Rafael Benitez's side in the Carling Cup quarter-final.

The result sent shockwaves around Anfield, with Benitez coming in for fierce criticism for fielding an under-strength side that was outclassed by Arsenal's own shadow squad.

It completed a devastating double blow inflicted on Liverpool by Arsenal after Arsene Wenger's side sent them out of the FA Cup third round, also at Anfield, on Saturday.

What was behind Liverpool's crushing defeat? And what are the ramifications for Liverpool's season and under-fire boss Benitez?

Benitez got it wrong. Pure and simple. The team he put out was just too weak.

I would not have any problem resting one or two players, but the more youngsters you play the more difficult it is to improve.

It is a similar situation to when England make six changes at half-time in a friendly. How can you bed in these players?

Liverpool lost in the FA Cup on Saturday, so they needed a good run in the Carling Cup.

It was arguably the worst Liverpool defending I have ever seen. The non-performances of Dudek, Hyypia and Paletta had to be seen to be disbelieved

I would have made the spine strong. I would have chosen two from Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia and Daniel Agger in central defence and paired Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso in midfield.

The two strikers, Robbie Fowler and Craig Bellamy, had plenty of experience but I might have had Dirk Kuyt on the bench as an insurance policy.

I would have blooded a couple of inexperienced players in wide areas but there were just too many in the side and that heaped even more pressure on the likes of Gerrard.

The consequences were dire. Keeper Jerzy Dudek and the central defenders Gabriel Paletta and Hyypia were all over the place.

Some of the defending had to be seen to be 'disbelieved' and they were cut apart by an Arsenal team that is fantastic on the counter-attack.

I can understand Benitez looking down the road to matches against Chelsea, Barcelona and Manchester United - but I just do not buy into the theory of resting players with future games in mind.

I do not go with the suggestion that the players are tired. I just don't understand it.

If you are playing 60 games a season, it probably means you are playing in a successful team and when you are winning you are not tired.

I would not want the manager tapping me on the shoulder and telling me to take a rest when we are winning.

Liverpool had Jamie Carragher and Alonso stripped and ready on the bench and I reckon their mindset would have been: "I'm stripped. I might as well play."

The object was defeated anyway because they both ended up playing and Luis Garcia came on as a sub and then ended up going off with what looks like a serious injury.

If players are tired, why not give them more time off in the week? Tell them to go and put their feet up for a few days - they are super-fit anyway.

I do not think this will be a problem. They will field a different team at Watford on Saturday.

Pepe Reina will return in goal, Steve Finnan and John Arne Riise will be back, there will be an experienced central defensive pairing and Alonso and Gerrard will start in midfield. Kuyt will be back up front, so this will be a different team.

Disappointing as the result was, this is not a crisis. I still fully expect them to finish in the qualifying places to reach the Champions League and they still have the opportunity to have a run in Europe's elite competition this season.

All is not lost, despite a severe beating at the hands of Arsenal.

Liverpool fans were huffing and puffing as they left Anfield after this - seeing their side concede six goals will be a once-in-a-lifetime nightmare for them.

They won't be happy about going out of two cup competitions in less than a week. And don't tell them the Carling Cup doesn't mean much - it was good enough for Manchester United to win last season.

And they will wonder what they are protecting them for because their record against Manchester United, Chelsea - in league combat anyway - and Arsenal is awful anyway.

They will be disappointed, desperately, but I think they still have faith in Benitez.

I don't believe they accept the idea of players resting either.

Benitez is absolutely fine. He will be under no pressure and I can see what he is trying to do with the bigger picture at Liverpool.

My only problem with him is the resting of players and playing a weakened team. He has won the Champions League and the FA Cup after all.

The players coming through from the academy are not ready yet and he is now trying to buy young players from around the world.

This is what Arsene Wenger has been doing but he has been doing it for 10 years.

Benitez is trying to do that and has only just started but he also needs five or six real quality players to come in, hopefully something the proposed Dubai takeover will help to achieve.