Liverpool secured a hard-fought 4-1 victory over Barnsley at Anfield to progress to the FA Cup fourth round, where they will face Brighton & Hove Albion. Despite a 57-place gap in the English football pyramid, League One outfit Barnsley provided a spirited challenge that kept the home crowd on edge for much of the match.

Early Liverpool Dominance

Manager Arne Slot’s side started brightly, with Dominik Szoboszlai opening the scoring with a superb strike from outside the box, leaving goalkeeper Murphy Cooper with no chance. Jeremie Frimpong doubled the advantage in the 36th minute with a composed left-footed finish, seemingly putting Liverpool in control.

However, the tie took a dramatic twist in the 40th minute. In a moment that will haunt him, Szoboszlai attempted a backheel pass to goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili but mis-hit the ball, allowing Adam Phillips, a lifelong Liverpool fan, to slot home and give Barnsley hope in front of their 6,000 travelling supporters.

A Nervy Second Half

The second half saw Barnsley press for an equalizer, highlighted by a controversial moment when Reyes Cleary went down under a challenge from Szoboszlai in the box. With no VAR in the FA Cup third round, referee Conor Hourihane’s side had no recourse to review the incident, much to the frustration of Barnsley’s manager.

Liverpool’s response came through tactical substitutions. Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz were introduced on the hour mark, and their combination proved decisive. In the 84th minute, Wirtz unleashed a stunning strike into the top corner after Ekitike’s clever backheel, restoring Liverpool’s two-goal lead. Added-time theatrics saw the duo link up again, with Ekitike tapping in at the back post to seal the 4-1 win.

Player Performances

• Adam Phillips (Barnsley) – Player of the Match, rating 7.37, for his sensational goal.
• Florian Wirtz – 7.22, crucial in the comeback and late goals.
• Hugo Ekitike – 7.02, decisive impact off the bench.
• Jeremie Frimpong – 6.96, first-half goal and strong attacking play.
• Dominik Szoboszlai – 6.60, opening goal but costly defensive error.

Other notable performances included Liverpool’s Alessandro Mac Allister, Andrew Robertson, and Virgil van Dijk, who helped steady the team after Barnsley’s surprise resurgence.

Analysis

Despite scoring four goals, Liverpool were far from convincing. The error from Szoboszlai gave Barnsley a lifeline and resulted in a tense second half. Slot’s substitutions highlighted how much Barnsley pushed the Premier League giants, keeping Anfield on edge until Wirtz’s intervention late in the game.

The victory extends Liverpool’s unbeaten run to 11 FA Cup home games, following previous shocks against Barnsley in 1997 and 2008. For Barnsley, the performance offered plenty of pride, showing resilience and threatening moments despite the gulf in class.

Looking Ahead

Liverpool now await Brighton in the FA Cup fourth round, a tie that promises a sterner test as Slot’s side look to regain consistency and control in domestic cup competitions. For Barnsley, the tie reinforces their reputation as a giant-killer capable of troubling top-tier teams.