Dominik Szoboszlai on Monday produced a sublime goal and a ridiculous error as Liverpool eased to a 4-1 win over third-tier Barnsley to reach the FA Cup fourth round.
The Hungary international unleashed a rocket into the top corner from long range to open the scoring at Anfield, before Jeremie Frimpong doubled the hosts’ lead, but Szoboszlai gifted the League One side a route back into the tie when he fluffed an attempted backheel inside his own penalty area and Adam Phillips gratefully smashed home.
Barnsley head coach Conor Hourihane claimed that Szoboszlai’s lax move was disrespectful and not one he would have tried in an English Premier League game.
Photo: Reuters
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot was also far from happy with his midfielder, who has been the side’s outstanding performer so far in a difficult season for the English champions.
“I don’t think you should do that in a FA Cup game, or a League Cup game or in a friendly game, or in a training session. It was a weird choice,” Slot said.
“I also have my opinion about it, but I prefer to keep that to myself and speak about that with Dom,” he said.
Photo: Reuters
Hourihane was furious his side were not awarded a penalty midway through the second half for a trip by Szoboszlai on Reyes Cleary.
Slot was forced to empty his bench of key players as Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Ibrahima Konate and Ryan Gravenberch were introduced just after the hour mark.
Liverpool labored going forward for most of the second half until their star duo of attacking substitutes clicked to clinch victory in the final six minutes and stoppage-time.
Ekitike’s deft flick found Wirtz, who curled into the top corner for his third goal in five games since breaking his duck in his 23rd appearance for the Reds.
The roles were reversed in stoppage-time as Wirtz unselfishly crossed for Ekitike to tap in.
“We scored nice goals, but I think for too long the game was tight,” Slot said. “Two-nil up then giving a goal away like that made it difficult until 10 minutes before the end.”
Liverpool’s reward is a home tie against Manchester United’s conquerors Brighton & Hove Albion in the fourth round.
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