Liverpool 4-1 Barnsley: Reds Advance in FA Cup Despite Szoboszlai Blunder

Liverpool secured a 4-1 victory over League One side Barnsley in the FA Cup third round at Anfield, setting up a fourth-round tie against Brighton.[1][2][3]

Barnsley started brightly, hitting the post via Davis Keillor-Dunn's header just 28 seconds in and testing goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili through Jonathan Bland and Keillor-Dunn.[1][6] Liverpool responded in the 10th minute when Dominik Szoboszlai unleashed a stunning 25-yard strike, assisted by Alexis Mac Allister, to open the scoring.[1][3][4][6]

Jeremie Frimpong, filling in at right-back for the injured Conor Bradley, doubled the lead with a fine left-footed finish from Mac Allister's pass, cutting inside high into the net.[1][3][4] However, disaster struck just before halftime: Szoboszlai's bizarre flick back to his keeper three yards from goal misfired, gifting former Liverpool academy player Adam Phillips an easy tap-in in front of the Kop, making it 2-1.[1][2][3][5][6]

In the second half, Barnsley pressed for an equalizer, nearly conceding a controversial penalty claim waved away after Szoboszlai cleanly won a challenge on Reyes Cleary.[1][6] Murphy Cooper brilliantly tipped Virgil van Dijk's volley onto the bar.[1][3] Arne Slot introduced high-value substitutes: Florian Wirtz, returning Hugo Ekitike, and Ibrahima Konate.[1][3]

Liverpool sealed the win late on. In the 84th minute, Wirtz curled home after Ekitike's deft flick, before the pair combined again for Ekitike to slide in the fourth in added time (90+4').[1][3][5][7] Despite the scoreline, Slot praised Barnsley's resilience, noting the need to respect the competition even with a strong lineup.[3]

Barnsley depart proudly, having troubled the Reds, while Liverpool progress amid Slot's mixed post-match reflections on defensive lapses.[1][5] (298 words)