Liverpool secures FA Cup fourth round with victory over Barnsley
Liverpool progressed to the FA Cup fourth round with a 4-1 triumph over League One outfit Barnsley at Anfield, though head coach Arne Slot remained far from satisfied with his side’s display, reports BritPanorama.
The Reds will now face Brighton in the next round after goals from Dominik Szoboszlai, Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike saw off their third-tier opponents.
Despite the comfortable-looking scoreline, Slot voiced his concerns about how competitive the match remained for too long. “I was happy with the goals we scored – they were nice goals,” the Liverpool manager told TNT Sports. However, he added, “I think it was a game that was tight for far too long because at 2-0 and then giving a goal away like that made it difficult until 5-10 minutes before the end.”
The match began with Barnsley showing intent early on, as Davis Keillor-Dunn’s header struck the post after just 28 seconds in front of the Kop. Liverpool’s resolve was tested, but they settled matters when Szoboszlai unleashed a spectacular strike from 25 yards to open the scoring inside ten minutes. The Hungarian became only the third Reds player to net from outside the box in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and League Cup, joining legends Steven Gerrard and John Arne Riise.
Frimpong, deputising at right-back following Conor Bradley’s season-ending injury, doubled the advantage by cutting onto his left foot and firing high into the net. However, Szoboszlai’s afternoon took an odd turn when he attempted a backheel clearance just three yards from goal, completely missing the ball and allowing former Liverpool academy product Adam Phillips to capitalise.
Slot was scathing about the midfielder’s decision to attempt the flick, stating, “I don’t think you should do that in an FA Cup game or League Cup, a friendly game or even a training session. It’s a weird choice and I also have my opinion about it but I prefer to keep that to myself and speak about that with Dom.”
The League One visitors came agonisingly close to drawing level around the hour mark when Reyes Cleary burst into the penalty area and tumbled under a challenge from Szoboszlai. Referee Farai Hallam dismissed Barnsley’s appeals, with VAR not operational until the fifth round of the competition. Replays indicated that while Szoboszlai made slight contact with the ball, he also had a hand on the winger’s back.
Wirtz made a significant impact after coming off the bench, contributing a goal and an assist during his half-hour cameo. He curled home following a clever flick from Ekitike before the pair linked up again for the French striker to add the fourth. “If you come in for half an hour and you have a goal and an assist and a few other good moments, you can definitely say he brought something creative to the team and that was what we needed today,” Slot remarked.
Barnsley manager Conor Hourihane expressed immense pride in his squad’s efforts against their top-flight opponents, stating, “Unbelievably proud of the lads. They were outstanding. They have to work hard for their goals. That first one is an unbelievable strike, the second and third were really impressive as well.”
The FA Cup often serves as a stage for unexpected drama, and while Liverpool may have emerged victorious, the whispers of unease in the manager’s analysis serve as a reminder that even amid victory, there are lessons still waiting to be learned.
