Liverpool 4-1 Barnsley: Reds Progress Thanks to Superb Goals

In an entertaining Emirates FA Cup third-round clash at Anfield on January 12, 2026, Liverpool secured a 4-1 victory over League One side Barnsley, advancing to face Brighton & Hove Albion in the fourth round.[2][3][4]

Barnsley started brightly, hitting the post within 28 seconds through Davis Keillor-Dunn's header and creating chances via counters, but Liverpool struck first in the 9th minute. Dominik Szoboszlai unleashed a stunning 25-30 yard strike from outside the box, rifling past goalkeeper Murphy Cooper to silence the visitors.[1][2][3][4][5]

The Reds doubled their lead in the 36th minute as Jeremie Frimpong cut inside from the right flank and hammered a fierce left-footed shot into the roof of the net, showcasing his pace and power.[2][3][4][6]

However, Szoboszlai became the hero and villain just before halftime. After chasing back to win possession, his ill-judged backheel pass inside his own six-yard box gifted Adam Phillips an easy tap-in, reducing the deficit to 2-1. The former Liverpool trainee capitalized on the bizarre error, injecting life into Barnsley's hopes.[3][4][5][6]

The second half saw Barnsley push forward, with Cooper making a brilliant save to tip Virgil van Dijk's volley onto the crossbar. Tensions rose as Barnsley appealed for a penalty on Szoboszlai, but replays showed he won the ball cleanly.[3][4]

Liverpool substitute Florian Wirtz restored the two-goal cushion in the 84th minute, curling home after combining with fellow sub Hugo Ekitiké. Ekitiké then sealed the win in stoppage time, tapping in from a Wirtz cross to make it 4-1.[2][3][4][5]

Despite the flattering scoreline, Barnsley's spirited display against the Premier League champions—57 places above them—earned praise. Liverpool extended their unbeaten run to 11 games, grinding out a hard-fought progression.[5][6]