Liverpool secured their spot in the fourth round of the FA Cup by beating Barnsley 4-1 – but the scoreline made it look more convincing than it actually was at Anfield. The Reds named a strong team to face their League One opponents but almost went behind just 30 seconds in when the Tykes hit the post from close range. Dominik Szoboszlai then thundered Liverpool in front with a venomous 25-yard screamer eight minutes in.
Jeremie Frimpong doubled the Premier League giants’ advantage but a horror mistake from Szoboszlai gave Adam Phillips a tap-in from a few yards out before half-time. Barnsley kept a near full-strength Liverpool team honest but Arne Slot’s side killed the game through substitutes Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike to secure a fourth-round clash with Brighton next month. Express Sport rates and slates the Reds…
Liverpool player ratings vs Barnsley
Giorgi Mamardashvili – 6
Good save to deny Jonathan Bland and also kept out a shot from Davis Keillor-Dunn. Could do absolutely nothing about the goal which was the only other shot on target he faced.
Jeremie Frimpong – 7
Scored a brilliant goal to make it 2-0 before half-time after getting forward plenty. The Dutchman is enjoying a really good run of form.
Joe Gomez – 5
Would have been to blame had Keillor-Dunn scored 30 seconds in and looked short of sharpness throughout the first half. Did defend well to thwart a Keillor-Dunn shot at the near post in the second half but a disappointing return to the starting eleven. Booked for a cynical foul.
Virgil van Dijk – 6
Beaten too easily by Keillor-Dunn before he fired straight at Mamardashvili then saw an expert volley brilliantly saved in the second half. Headed wide when he should have made it 3-1 from a Cody Gakpo cross.
Andy Robertson – 6
Didn’t contribute a whole lot despite seeing a good amount of the ball.
Alexis Mac Allister – 6
A mixed night. Caught on the ball for one early Barnsley attack and guilty of some below-par moments but comes away with two assists.
Curtis Jones – 7
Had one shot blocked at a corner and played a great pass into Gakpo for a first-half chance. Used the ball well and helped keep his side in control.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 6
Would have been man of the match if not for an absolute stinker of a mistake that allowed Barnsley to score, which gets him marked down from an 8/10. Scored an absolute thunderbolt to make it 1-0 – his sixth goal of the season. After his error, a good last-ditch tackle on Reyes Cleary and a magnificent cross that substitute Wirtz should have scored from.
Federico Chiesa – 5
Works hard but his end product was too poor too often with some sloppy passing. Had a shot blocked early in the second half but otherwise quiet in front of goal.
Cody Gakpo – 6
Lived a very lonely existence as the centre-forward before switching to left wing when Hugo Ekitike came on and looking livelier. Had one shot blocked and another saved but should have got an assist with a good cross to Van Dijk.
Rio Ngumoha – 6
Tricky and some nice moments but still very raw with his end product, bar one nice cross into Curtis Jones at the back post. Switched to the right after Wirtz came on then went off injured after stretching to keep the ball in play.
Substitutes
Ibrahima Konate (Gomez 60) – 6
Helped see out the victory. Great recovery run to thwart Corey O’Keeffe in stoppage time.
Florian Wirtz (Frimpong 60) – 7
Missed a sitter from a sensational Szoboszlai cross but then produced a great finish to kill the game. Ruined a counter-attack late on and then made a great run for the fourth goal, squaring to Ekitike to tap in.
Hugo Ekitike (Chiesa 59) – 7
His return from injury is a welcome boost and he played a lovely flick into Wirtz for the third before tapping in the German’s cross to add gloss to the scoreline at the death.
Ryan Gravenberch (Ngumoha 73) – N/A
Some minutes in the legs.
Trey Nyoni (Mac Allister 88) – N/A
Another appearance to his name.
