It wasn’t exactly a routine night for Liverpool against Barnsley, with the Reds needing to dig deeper than they would have been expecting at home to a League One side.
The first half was where all the action happened in this FA Cup tie.
Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring with a brilliant long-range strike, before Jeremie Frimpong doubled Liverpool’s advantage.
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Those inside Anfield probably thought a hammering was in store then, but Szoboszlai’s head-scratcher of a mistake gave Barnsley hope of an upset.
It wouldn’t be until the final minutes that the Reds actually killed the tie courtesy of an eye-catching linkup between Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, that saw the two of them score to seal a 4-1 result that doesn’t tell the full story.
Who was your Man of the Match as the Reds head into round four?
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Photo by PETER POWELL / AFP via Getty Images
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Liverpool player ratings vs Barnsley
Giorgi Mamardashvili – 6
Mamardashvili probably didn’t expect to be so busy in his return to the lineup, but you can’t fault his performance.
Jeremie Frimpong – 7
The awful news this week about Conor Bradley has led to speculation about the need for a new right-back, but Frimpong is staking his claim for the starting berth.
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It was another attacking return with a superb left-footed strike into the roof of the net for Liverpool’s second.
Liverpool v Barnsley - Emirates FA Cup Third Round
Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images
Joe Gomez – 5
Gomez had a slow start against Barnsley. He looked off the pace, but grew into the game before making way on the hour mark.
Virgil van Dijk – 6
The Liverpool captain was a regular goal threat in the second half — maybe our biggest — coming close on a number of occasions. Credit to the Barnsley keeper.
Andy Robertson – 6
Robertson got the nod over Milos Kerkez for this game and didn’t look off the pace.
Alexis Mac Allister – 5
Mac Allister is threatening to really kick on this season, but he’s not the consistently excellent midfield maestro of last season.
Curtis Jones – 7
A very solid display from Jones, controlling the tempo for much of the game and finding passes through the lines. Has an argument for Liverpool’s best player.
Giorgi Mamardashvili consoles Dominik Szoboszlai after his mistake during the FA Cup tie between Liverpool and Barnsley at Anfield
Photo by MB Media/Getty Images
Dominik Szoboszlai – 5
What a crazy first half from Szoboszlai. He gave the goalkeeper no chance with a 25-yard rocket to put Liverpool in front. He followed that up with a baffling error to gift Barnsley a goal before the break.
He was lucky not to give away another goal when he took down the Barnsley winger in the penalty box. Hard to judge Szoboszlai — some really good, some atrocious. Can’t go higher than a five for that howler.
Federico Chiesa – 5
Chiesa might be exiting Liverpool this month with Juventus intent on making an approach. If this was his last game, he would have liked to make more of an impact.
Cody Gakpo – 5
A quiet game from the Dutchman. He started at striker, but looked more effective when he moved out to the left to make space for Hugo Ekitike coming on.
Rio Ngumoha – 6
The 17-year-old was a welcome inclusion in Arne Slot’s lineup, and was his usual explosive self from the left. Fearless running at defenders and a real threat, he showed an ability to cause trouble from either flank.
Hopefully the strain that sent him off is nothing too serious.
Rio Ngumoha and Jeremie Frimpong line up ahead of Liverpool's FA Cup tie against Barnsley at Anfield.
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Substitutions
Ibrahima Konate – 6
Solid 30 minutes from the Frenchman.
Florian Wirtz – 7
The miss from Wirtz at point-blank range was bad, but he more than made up for it with the tie-killing goal in the 83rd minute.
Hugo Ekitike – 7
It seemed like Liverpool were crying out for a number nine for much of the game. Ekitike’s introduction didn’t make the desired impact initially, but that moment of quality to flick it to Wirtz was beautiful, and he got his goal in the dying moments.
Ryan Gravenberch – 6
Gravenberch was decent when he came on.
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