Dominik Szoboszlai Blunder Echoed Infamous Liverpool FA Cup Moment Before Impressive Response

In a thrilling FA Cup third-round tie at Anfield on Monday, Liverpool defeated League One side Barnsley 4-1, but the match was defined by Dominik Szoboszlai's rollercoaster performance—hero and villain in one night.[2][3]

The Hungarian midfielder opened the scoring after just eight minutes with a stunning 30-meter strike, silencing the traveling Barnsley fans and setting the tone for Liverpool's dominance.[2] Jeremie Frimpong doubled the lead soon after, cutting in from the right to fire home a fierce left-footed shot.[2]

However, disaster struck five minutes before halftime. With the ball at his feet six yards from his own goal, Szoboszlai attempted a calamitous backheel, poorly executed and gifting Barnsley's Adam Phillips an easy tap-in to make it 2-1. The blunder, likened to infamous Liverpool FA Cup gaffes, drew widespread criticism for its perceived disrespect toward the underdogs.[2][3][4]

Barnsley manager Conor Hourihane called it out post-match: "I don't think the player does that against Chelsea or Arsenal... I was a little bit disappointed."[3] Liverpool boss Arne Slot echoed the sentiment, slamming it as a "weird choice" and "disrespectful," vowing to address it privately with Szoboszlai.[3]

Szoboszlai, nearly penalized again early in the second half, redeemed himself somewhat by clearing a Phillips shot off the line. Arne Slot then introduced star substitutes Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké, and Ibrahima Konaté after the hour mark to steady the ship against Barnsley's spirited resistance.[2]

Wirtz sealed the victory six minutes from time, curling in a beauty from an Ekitiké pass, with Ekitiké later adding a fourth.[2][3] Szoboszlai apologized on TNT Sports: "Sorry to the team. I made it hard for us with an easy mistake. Football happens and we move on."[2][4]

The win sets up a fourth-round clash with Brighton, as Liverpool's depth prevailed despite the drama. Szoboszlai's mix of sublime and ridiculous play highlighted his season-long brilliance amid the controversy.[1][3]

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