Few score from 30 meters and create a goal with a backheel in the same match. When a player does it, it can be a source of pure joy. The sight of a discouraged Dominik Szoboszlai told another story. He struck for Liverpool spectacularly, gifted Barnsley a goal with an embarrassing error and he was man of the match in the sense that it was all about him to a remarkable extent; Barnsley wanted a penalty for their live Reyes Cleary shirt shot. The evening ended with Liverpool progressing in the FA Cup both because of and in spite of Szoboszlai.
Szoboszlai generally has the one who has been flawless this season. Not this time, although one blunder at least allowed Adam Phillips to realize one ambition. “To score in front of the Kop, a Liverpool fan, coming from the academy, it’s something he can remember for the rest of his life and say he did it,” said his manager, Conor Hourihane.
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When Szoboszlai looks back, it may be with more regret. The Hungarian first led the way for his team, then was punished for his showboating. His evening started with a celebration and ended with an apology. “Sorry again for the team,” he said. “I made it difficult for us. It was an easy mistake.”
This may not spare him an investigation from a disgruntled Arne Slot. “I don’t think you should do that in an FA Cup or League Cup match, a friendly match or even a training session,” he said. “It’s a weird choice but I’d rather talk to Dom about it.”
Indeed, Szoboszlai united both managers in their criticism. “It’s a bit disrespectful from their player, I don’t think he would do that against Chelsea or Arsenal or in a Champions League game,” said Barnsley’s Hourihane. Szoboszlai at least scores against Arsenal and Barnsley. His sixth of the season means only Hugo Ekitike has more for Liverpool.
Still needed a show of bench strength from Slot to put Liverpool through. Perhaps marked by last season’s exit at Plymouth, when many of his replacements were rookies, he brought on Florian Wirtz and Ekitike, saw both score and assist and finished with a 4-1 scoreline that flattered his team. But on the day a former Liverpool favorite, Xabi Alonso, became an unemployed manager, victory may have come at just the right time for Slot. His team is now unbeaten in 11 games and while that figure is more emphatic than most performances, Liverpool have booked a date with Brighton. The temptation is to suggest it could have been Liverpool versus Manchester United.
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It could, however, have been Barnsley v Brighton. The Tykes suffered their first defeat at Anfield since 1959, just months before Liverpool appointed Bill Shankly, but the 17th-placed League One side may wonder if it could have been their third successive victory here. They hit the woodwork within 30 seconds and played with a verve that belied their recent form.
Dominik Szoboszlai scored a 30-yard screamer to give Liverpool the lead (REUTERS)
Jérémie Frimpong added a second for the hosts (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
They also justified Slot’s choices. “It’s not a compliment to myself, but I think I made the right decision by playing a lot of starters,” he said. He made six changes, with Rio Ngumoha the only youngster to start. When Liverpool’s lead looked precarious at times, Slot made a triple change to bring in Ibrahima Konate, Wirtz and Ekitike, who have a combined cost of more than £200million. If Barnsley could take that as a compliment, the reinforcements were finishing off the team in the third tier. Wirtz’s third goal in five games was scored by Ekitike with a backheel – this, he perhaps showed Szoboszlai, how to do – and curled in from 25 yards. Then the German escaped down the right flank, centered and Ekitike got a relatively simple finish.
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So, three Liverpool players scored and scored a goal, but only two only for the Reds. As Liverpool conceded a terrible goal, they scored three crackers. “It’s not always easy to unblock a low block,” Slot said, echoing a favorite theme. He often says that it takes a moment of magic. With Barnsley playing 5-4-1, the Premier League champions got three.
Indeed, Alexis Mac Allister obtained two assists for two completely ordinary passes. The finishes were rather more memorable. First came Szoboszlai’s good one, a 30-yard deflected shot past Murphy Cooper.
Adam Phillips took advantage of Szoboszlai’s blunder (REUTERS)
Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike came off the bench to score Liverpool’s third and fourth goals (Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
Then Jérémie Frimpong stepped up to launch an unstoppable shot for his first goal at Anfield. The worrying element for Liverpool was that, without Conor Bradley for the remainder of the season, Frimpong were struggling defensively.
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While there were times when Liverpool looked shaky in defence, particularly against counter-attacks, Barnsley’s goal came in a rather different way. Szoboszlai has often been the role model for Liverpool this season. It was the example of how not to do things. An attempted backheel inside his own six-yard box was an attempt to be clever that left him looking stupid. He then presented Phillips with an attempt to be too clever. “It’s not the first time we’ve been up 2-0 and conceded a sloppy goal, but this stands out even for us,” Slot said.
His night became more difficult. It had started almost terribly. Liverpool defended wonderfully against Arsenal but started chaotically. With 28 seconds left, Davis Keillor-Dunn headed Phillips’ cross against the post. Joe Gomez was then guilty. This was not to prove Liverpool’s worst defensive aberration, however.
