Liverpool advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 4-1 victory over a valiant Barnsley side at Anfield, but the Premier League champions were made to work hard for their win after a moment of madness from midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai.
Barnsley's Brave Start and Liverpool's Response
The League One strugglers, managed by Conor Hourihane, began the third-round tie with remarkable ambition. Within just 29 seconds, striker Davis Keillor-Dunn saw his header cannon back off the post with goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili beaten. Nathanael Ogbeta also fired a warning shot over the bar as the visitors refused to be intimidated.
Liverpool, fielding a strong side as pledged by manager Arne Slot, gradually asserted their authority. The breakthrough came in spectacular fashion from Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungarian captain, afforded too much space on the left, unleashed a stunning 30-yard drive that flew into the top corner of Murphy Cooper's net.
The comfort of a two-goal cushion was provided by Jeremie Frimpong, who cut inside from the right and thundered a shot into the roof of the net. It was the Dutch defender's first goal at Anfield and seemed to set the stage for a routine progression.
A Costly Moment of Showboating
However, Szoboszlai's evening turned from sublime to ridiculous shortly before half-time. Intercepting a pass in his own penalty area, the midfielder attempted an unnecessary backheel to his goalkeeper Mamardashvili. The misjudged trick went horribly wrong, scuffing the ball and leaving it perfectly for Barnsley's Adam Phillips to slot into an empty net.
The self-inflicted error handed Barnsley a crucial lifeline and transformed the atmosphere at Anfield. The Championship side, demonstrating tremendous spirit, believed a famous upset was possible.
Late Flurry Seals the Deal for Reds
Barnsley's resistance was fierce after the break. Cooper produced a magnificent save to tip a Virgil van Dijk volley onto the crossbar, keeping his team in contention. The visitors then had strong appeals for a penalty waved away when Reyes Cleary went down under a challenge from the recovering Szoboszlai, a decision that incensed the away bench.
Manager Arne Slot introduced Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké, and Ibrahima Konaté on the hour mark to inject fresh energy. The changes eventually told. Wirtz, having earlier missed a sitter, made amends with a beautiful curled finish into the top corner after a slick Liverpool move. The German international then turned provider in stoppage time, delivering a perfect cross for Ekitiké to head home and give the scoreline a convincing gloss.
The late flourish spared Szoboszlai's blushes and ensured Liverpool's place in the fourth round, where they will host Brighton. While the result reflected Premier League quality, Barnsley's courageous performance ensured this was far from a straightforward evening for the favourites.
