Arne Slot Immediately Proven Right with New Liverpool Priority Now Clear

Liverpool FC secured a 4-1 victory over Sky Bet League One side Barnsley in the Emirates FA Cup third round at Anfield on January 12, 2026, advancing to the fourth round to face Brighton at home. Manager Arne Slot's decision to prioritize the competition with a strong lineup was vindicated, despite a tense match marked by individual errors and Barnsley's resilience[1][2].

Slot fielded five starters from the recent goalless draw at Arsenal, including Joe Gomez, Federico Chiesa, Curtis Jones, and Andy Robertson, supplemented by young talent like 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. The bench boasted over £250 million in summer signings, such as fit-again Hugo Ekitike, signaling no risks after last season's shock exit to Plymouth[2].

The Reds dominated possession but struggled against Barnsley's low block. Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring with a sumptuous strike from outside the box, followed by Jeremie Frimpong's stunner, putting Liverpool 2-0 up before halftime. However, Szoboszlai's reckless backheel in his own six-yard box gifted Adam Phillips— a former Liverpool trainee— a goal, making it 2-1 and injecting anxiety[1][2].

In his post-match press conference, Slot praised the "four beautiful goals", including long-range efforts that unlocked the defense, but admitted the win felt "tight." He defended playing first-team stars, noting limited squad depth prevented heavy rotation: "I could have played four or five U21 players but I chose not to... it showed we needed a lot of first-team players"[1][5]. Slot commended Barnsley's game plan, similar to many Premier League visitors, and their pride-worthy performance[1].

Substitutes Florian Wirtz (84') and Ekitike (added time) sealed the win, easing concerns amid Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid departure news. ESPN analysts called the scoreline "flattering," with Barnsley threatening extra time before Liverpool's quality prevailed[2][3]. This result clarifies Slot's new priority: treating the FA Cup seriously to build momentum, proven right by avoiding an upset[1][2].

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