Liverpool Ace Dominik Szoboszlai Criticised by Former Manager

In Liverpool's 4-1 victory over Barnsley in the FA Cup third round at Anfield, midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai sparked controversy with a risky backheel attempt deep in his own penalty area.[1][2]

Szoboszlai had opened the scoring early, followed by Jeremie Frimpong's goal to make it 2-0. However, just before halftime, the Hungarian tried a casual backheel to clear the ball from three yards out under pressure. The move misfired dramatically, gifting possession to Barnsley, who capitalized through Adam Phillips—a former Liverpool academy player—pulling the score to 2-1.[1][2][3][4]

Barnsley head coach Conor Hourihane, a former Liverpool midfielder, slammed the attempt as "disrespectful," suggesting Szoboszlai wouldn't risk such flair against top sides like Chelsea, Arsenal, or in the Champions League. Hourihane praised Phillips' milestone goal in front of the Kop but emphasized the perceived arrogance nearly cost Liverpool dearly, reigniting Barnsley's hopes.[2][3][4]

Even Liverpool boss Arne Slot vented fury post-match, calling it part of a recurring complacency issue. "I have my opinion about that which I'm definitely going to share with him," Slot said, noting it's not the first time the team has conceded sloppy goals when leading 2-0, shifting the opposition's mindset and inviting unnecessary pressure.[1][2]

Despite the tension, Liverpool dominated the second half to advance, drawing Brighton in the fourth round. The incident overshadowed an otherwise comfortable win, highlighting Slot's push for relentless efficiency amid a season of similar lapses.[1][2][3]

A second-half penalty shout against Szoboszlai—when Barnsley's Reyes Cleary went down under his challenge—added to the drama but went unawarded.[4]

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