Overview
- Liverpool advanced 4-1 at Anfield as Szoboszlai’s long-range opener, Frimpong’s strike, and late goals from substitutes Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike settled the tie after Adam Phillips capitalised on a backheel error.
- Barnsley impressed early, hitting the post inside 30 seconds and later seeing penalty appeals for a Szoboszlai challenge on Reyes Cleary waved away with VAR unavailable until the fifth round.
- Slot called Szoboszlai’s attempted backheel a “weird choice” and Barnsley manager Conor Hourihane described it as disrespectful.
- Liverpool fielded a stronger-than-expected side with six changes from the Arsenal draw, with Jeremie Frimpong deputising at right-back following Conor Bradley’s long-term knee injury.
- The result extends Liverpool’s unbeaten run to 11 matches and sets a fourth-round home tie against Brighton in mid-February.