Barnsley were gifted a goal at Anfield in the FA Cup third round clash after Dominik Szobozlai inexplicably attempted a backheel pass in his own six-yard box.
The Hungarian gave the hosts the lead with a 25-yard rocket after the League One club had made the brighter start, eradicating the nerves around Anfield. But Barnsley continued to mount pressure on the Reds until Jeremie Frimpong looked to have killed the cup tie off with a stunning strike of his own in the 36th minute.
However, the game was brought back to life when former Reds youngster Adam Phillips pounced on a shocking mistake from Szoboszlai just yards out from his own goal.
Dominik Szoboszlai
Dominik Szoboszlai made an embarrassing error
Intercepting a through ball chasing back towards his own penalty box, Szoboszlai took a heavy touch to keep the ball away from Phillips and began to dribble across the face of his own goal.
But Phillips didn't give up and was given the easiest goal of his career when the Hungarian attempted a backheel in his own six-yard box, but hilariously missed the ball, allowing Barnsley the chance to halve the deficit and head into half-time at 2-1.
The midfielder was left looked completely embarrassed as he hunched over, putting his hands on his knees. The half-time whistle was greeted by cheers from Barnsley fans and murmurs of discontent from frustrated Liverpool fans.
Szoboszlai's mistake was slammed as "pure arrogance" by raging Liverpool fans on X. "Szoboszlai - the reason for his mistake? Pure arrogance. He got what he deserved," one wrote.
Speaking on TNT Sports commentary, a baffled Ally McCoist said: "I don't know what Szoboszlai is thinking. He does well to match the run, and then defensively his duties were all but done as he gets in front of Phillips.
"Does he try to stand on the ball or backheel it...oh he does. He tries to backheel it! What is he thinking? That is incredible. Absolutely incredible.
"I don't think I've ever seen a player of that quality do something like that in an area where you shouldn't even be thinking about it. I'm stunned."
Former Liverpool winger Steve McManaman tore into the midfielder's calamity at half-time, sacthingly saying with a face like thunder: "I don't like it at all from Szoboszlai. You'd never do that against Arsenal or Manchester City.
"Why he is doing that against Barnsley, I'll never know. Something must be going on in his mind...because he was flicking the ball around in the first half and looking comfortable. But you don't do that in those areas. I didn't like it."