Barnsley head coach Conor Hourihane has slammed Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai for his attempted backheel in their FA Cup tie. He claimed that the Hungarian midfielder wouldn't have tried it against the likes of Arsenal or Chelsea.
The Reds hosted League One side Barnsley at Anfield in the FA Cup Third Round on Monday, January 12. Szoboszlai opened the scoring in the ninth minute before Jeremie Frimpong added another in the 36th minute. However, the visitors pulled one back in the 40th minute.
Szoboszlai attempted a casual backheel in his own box, which fell to a Barnsley player. Former Liverpool academy graduate, Adam Phillips, scored to make it 2-1. After the game, Hourihane spoke about the goal, saying (h/t GOAL):
"It is such an amazing feeling for Adam 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. Not many people can say that.
"But it was a little bit disrespectful from their player, to be honest. I don't think he does that against Chelsea or Arsenal or in a Champions League game. Delighted for Adam, but disrespectful from their player's point of view."
The Merseysiders eventually won the game 4-1, with Florian Wirtz (84') and Hugo Ekitike (90+4') scoring in the second half.
Arne Slot opens up on Dominik Szoboszlai's error in Liverpool's win over Barnsley
After the game, Arne Slot said that he has an opinion about Dominik Szoboszlai's error, about which he will speak with him. He added that there have been many such moments this season, where Liverpool have made errors while being comfortable in games.
When asked if he had spoken to Szoboszlai after his error, Slot said (h/t Liverpoolfc.com):
"No, in that moment I thought a lot towards half-time but I chose to inform them in the best possible way for us to be more fluid, more tempo, more able to create chances. Which didn't work out that well because again second half we created a few chances but not a lot. I have my opinion about that, which I'm definitely going to share with him."
"And it's not the first time - now I'm talking generally - that we are 2-0 up, there's no problems in the game and then we concede a sloppy or easy goal. But this one stands definitely out, even for us, when it is about conceding an easy and sloppy goal," he added.
The Reds will face Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield in the FA Cup Fourth Round on February 14. Next up, they will host Burnley in the Premier League on January 17.