Liverpool narrowly avoided an upset in the FA Cup against Sky Bet League One side Barnsley, securing a shaky 4-1 victory at Anfield despite an inexplicable moment from Dominik Szoboszlai.
The Hungary international exhibited a risky overconfidence with a backheel attempt in his own six-yard box, which gifted Adam Phillips a chance he could only have dreamed of as a former Reds academy player and lifelong supporter.
Remarkably, just five minutes prior to halftime, Liverpool was in total control as Szoboszlai’s exquisite strike was followed by a stunning goal from Jeremie Frimpong.
This misstep gave renewed hope to the visitors, currently positioned 17th in the third tier, as they pressed for an equaliser, culminating in substitute Florian Wirtz‘s well-placed strike in the 84th minute. Hugo Ekitike then sealed the match with a goal in stoppage time, securing a home tie against Brighton.
Szoboszlai’s night could have taken a turn for the worse had VAR been available, as his tackle on Reyes Cleary left Barnsley incensed over a possible penalty that went unawarded.
This marked an 11th consecutive match without defeat for Liverpool, yet, similar to many previous encounters, it was hardly convincing.
Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso’s departure from Real Madrid shortly before kick-off should not have added any pressure on manager Arne Slot. However, the specter of the ex-Bayer Leverkusen boss will loom larger if results falter.
Having learned a harsh lesson from their exit at Plymouth last season, Liverpool’s coach opted for a strong lineup, featuring five players from Thursday’s goalless draw against Arsenal.
The six substitutions did not dilute the team’s strength, as Joe Gomez, Federico Chiesa, Curtis Jones, and Andy Robertson were complemented by 17-year-old debutant Rio Ngumoha and Georgia‘s goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Slot demonstrated his cautious approach, with a bench filled with over £250 million worth of summer signings, including the returning Ekitike.
However, just 30 seconds into the match, Keillor-Dunn nearly caused an upset by heading against the post.
Szoboszlai kicked off his evening with a breathtaking 35-yard shot, but Liverpool’s last encounter with Barnsley in 2008 ended in a 2-1 defeat despite leading 1-0. Following his strike, Jonathan Bland’s 25-yard volley forced Mamardashvili into a fine save, yet Liverpool extended their lead when Frimpong’s left-footed shot rifled past goalkeeper Murphy Cooper.
But what seemed secure quickly turned precarious as Szoboszlai’s attempt to backheel to Mamardashvili in the six-yard box turned into a blunder, allowing Phillips to tap in an open goal, shifting the momentum towards the struggling visitors.
In the second half, Cooper made a stunning save, tipping a shot from Virgil van Dijk onto the crossbar, keeping Barnsley hopeful until the 84th minute when the game was sealed and fans departed to a tongue-in-cheek rendition of The Bangles’ ‘Manic Monday’ playing in the background.