Liverpool vs Barnsley Player Ratings: Alexis Mac Allister Stars in 4-1 FA Cup Rout

Liverpool advanced to the FA Cup fourth round with a convincing 4-1 victory over League One side Barnsley at Anfield on January 12, 2026. Alexis Mac Allister delivered a masterclass in midfield, earning Man of the Match honors with two assists in a dominant display.[1]

Match Overview

Liverpool lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation: Giorgi Mamardashvili in goal; Jeremie Frimpong, Joseph Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, and Andrew Robertson in defense; Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai in central midfield; Federico Chiesa, Curtis Jones, and Rio Ngumoha behind striker Cody Gakpo. Barnsley deployed a defensive 5-4-1 with Murphy Cooper in goal and Davis Keillor-Dunn up top.[1][2]

Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring early with a stunning 25-yard strike, setting the tone. Despite Barnsley's consolation goal—partly due to Szoboszlai's error—Liverpool pulled away. Jeremie Frimpong added a goal from a solid wing run, while Mac Allister's precise assists orchestrated the rout. Manager Arne Slot (8/10) selected a strong XI and impactful substitutes like Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike.[1][4]

Player Ratings

• Giorgi Mamardashvili (7/10): Two big first-half saves; helpless on Barnsley's goal.[1]
• Joseph Gomez (5/10): Quiet night, picked up a yellow card.[1]
• Virgil van Dijk (7/10): Solid defending, nearly scored.[1]
• Dominik Szoboszlai (5/10): Spectacular goal but gifted Barnsley's reply.[1]
• Alexis Mac Allister (9/10): Man of the Match—huge impact with two assists, as predicted pre-match.[1]
• Federico Chiesa (6/10): Solid but didn't maximize minutes.[1]
• Curtis Jones (6/10): Untroubled, error-free.[1]
• Cody Gakpo (6/10): Quiet, but had a headed chance.[1]
• Jeremie Frimpong (8/10): Dynamic runs, capped with a goal.[1]
• Andrew Robertson (7/10): Strong defense, forward probes.[1]
• Rio Ngumoha (6/10): Brilliant moments marred by fouls.[1]

Key Takeaways

Slot's rotation paid off against lower-league opposition, with Mac Allister controlling proceedings. Barnsley showed fight but couldn't match Liverpool's quality. This win keeps Liverpool's cup dreams alive amid injury concerns for players like Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak.[1][2][4]

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