Liverpool secured its place in the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 4-1 win over Barnsley, but it was far from a straightforward night for the Reds or Dominik Szoboszlai
James Findlater Content Editor
10:38, 13 Jan 2026
Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai
Dominik Szoboszlai's error against Barnsley has been picked apart by the UK's media(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool may have booked its place in the fourth round of the FA Cup, but the 4-1 win over Barnsley only tells half the story.
Goals from Dominik Szoboszlai, Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike set up a meeting with Brighton next month. But while the scoreline might give the impression of a comfortable night for the Reds, it didn’t pan out that way against their League One opponents.
Szoboszlai’s moment of madness in front of the Kop at the end of the first half certainly didn’t help, with the midfielder somehow managing to gift former Red Adam Phillips with a goal after an attempted backheel that has seen him being accused of disrespecting his opponent.
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As ever, the UK’s media was out in full force at Anfield to see Liverpool overcome its first hurdle in the cup. Here’s what they made of the win over Barnsley…
Andy Hunter - The Guardian
The scoreline was far more convincing than Liverpool’s performance against League One opposition. Barnsley made Arne Slot’s side battle for the right to host Brighton in round four while their head coach, Conor Hourihane, accused Dominik Szoboszlai of disrespect for gifting his team a goal while showboating. Slot appeared inclined to agree.
Liverpool were grateful for a late Florian Wirtz-inspired flourish for an ultimately comfortable margin of victory and banishing any anxieties. But this had been another slog against a low defensive block until the expensive substitute swept home a fine third goal and created a stoppage‑time fourth for Hugo Ekitiké. There was no more relieved man inside Anfield than Szoboszlai.
Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool reacts after making a defensive error during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Barnsley
Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool reacts after making a defensive error during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Barnsley(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
The Hungary captain punctured an enterprising start by Barnsley with a brilliant 30-yard strike only to let them back into the tie with a ridiculous error. The former Liverpool academy player Adam Phillips profited in front of the Kop to reduce the arrears to 2-1 and reward Barnsley’s disciplined and occasionally dangerous display. The visitors had other moments, not least when the impressive winger Reyes Cleary went down in the Liverpool penalty area under a Szoboszlai challenge, before Wirtz’s class ultimately told.
Richard Jolly - The Independent
Few score from 30 yards and create a goal with a backheel in the same game. When a player does, it could be cause for unadulterated joy. The sight of a crestfallen Dominik Szoboszlai told another tale. He struck for Liverpool in spectacular style, gifted Barnsley a goal with an embarrassing blunder and was the man of the match in the sense that it revolved around him to a remarkable extent; Barnsley wanted a penalty for his shirt tug on the lively Reyes Cleary. The night ended with Liverpool progressing in the FA Cup simultaneously because of and despite Szoboszlai.
Szoboszlai has usually been the one who was blameless this season. Not this time, though a gaffe at least allowed Adam Phillips to realise an ambition. “Scoring in front of the Kop, Liverpool fan, coming through the academy; it’s something he can look back on for the rest of his life and say he did that,” said his manager, Conor Hourihane.
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When Szoboszlai looks back, it may be with more regret. The Hungarian first showed his side the way and was then punished for his showboating. His night began with a celebration and ended with an apology. “Sorry to the team again,” he said. “I made it hard for us. It was an easy mistake.”
Ian Ladyman - Daily Mail
From the depths of their early winter despair, Liverpool have somehow pieced together an unbeaten run of eleven games. But the truth is they continue to look a most unconvincing football team and if greater difficulties are not around the corner, it will be a surprise.
For now at least, they will continue in a competition that will only offer their season a lifeline if they manage to play rather better than they did here.
This was not a particularly recognisable Liverpool team as manager Arne Slot made a raft of changes. But nor was it callow and severely under resourced. Liverpool needed two late goals to put a shine on this evening and as such were very familiar indeed.
David Lynch - The Telegraph
The story of Liverpool’s 4-1 FA Cup win over Barnsley should have been that a side from the lower reaches of League One were so impressive in running the reigning Premier League champions close.
It was not until the 84th and 94th minutes that the hosts wrapped things up through substitutes worth just short of a combined £200m in Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, who added to brilliant first-half strikes from Dominik Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong at Anfield.
And those goals brought about a scoreline that did not perhaps reflect a game in which the visitors conceded few chances prior to the final 15 minutes, while carrying plenty of threat on the break throughout.
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But, in the end, the main talking point proved to be the circumstances surrounding Barnsley’s only goal – an inexplicable Szoboszlai back-heel attempt in the six-yard box that allowed former Liverpool academy player Adam Phillips to gleefully tap in at the Kop end.