Match reportLiverpool beat Barnsley at Anfield to reach FA Cup fourth round

Clinical finishes from Dominik Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong put Arne Slot’s team two goals to the good during the first half.

The former was guilty of a costly mistake before the interval, though, one that was punished by Adam Phillips to bring the away side back into the tie.

But substitutes Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike found the target late on to ensure the Reds set up a February home clash with Brighton & Hove Albion in the next stage.

Team

There were six changes to the starting XI for Liverpool, while Wataru Endo and Ekitike bolstered the bench by returning from fitness issues.

Liverpool: Mamardashvili, Gomez (Konate, 59), Van Dijk, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister (Nyoni, 88), Chiesa (Ekitike, 59), Jones, Gakpo, Robertson, Frimpong (Wirtz, 59), Ngumoha (Gravenberch, 73).

Unused subs: Alisson, Endo, Kerkez, Ramsay.

First half

Liverpool were grateful to not find themselves behind 30 seconds into the tie.

Phillips curled an inviting cross from the right flank that Davis Keillor-Dunn met with a crisp header at goal that looked to have Giorgi Mamardashvili beaten but bounced out off the near post.

The League One outfit’s bright start continued with a counter-attack after Joe Gomez was robbed of the ball on the halfway line, before Nathanael Ogbeta flashed a cross-shot off target from a narrow angle.

In response, the Reds took the lead from a moment of exquisite quality.

Alexis Mac Allister fed a pass across the pitch to Szoboszlai, slightly left of centre and more than 25 yards out. The Hungarian unleashed a stunning, dipping effort inside the left post that Murphy Cooper could not get near.

The hosts’ dominance of possession was no spoiler to Barnsley’s ambition on the break and Keillor-Dunn was disappointed to only screw a finish wide having been able to dart forward to the edge of the area.

Then, after a partially cleared corner, Jonathan Bland fired in a half-volley that required a reaction from Mamardashvili, diving to his left to glove away.

Liverpool were steadily exerting pressure, though, and their lead was doubled with 36 on the clock.

It was almost all of Frimpong’s own making, the No.30 speeding past his marker on a dribble in from the flank and hammering a left-footed strike past Cooper.

Still, the teams retired to the dressing room with the scoreline gap reduced to one goal.

Szoboszlai had chased back diligently to close off a Phillips run in behind but, having then carried on into his own box, the midfielder’s misjudged flicked pass allowed his opponent to convert from yards out.

Second half

Rio Ngumoha’s floated cross narrowly evaded Curtis Jones at the far post as Liverpool sought to pin their visitors back from the restart.

Just shy of the hour mark, from a short-corner routine Szoboszlai’s delivery reached Virgil van Dijk, whose instinctive hit was deflected, touched by Cooper and clipped the crossbar.

Slot turned to his subs with the final 30 minutes impending. Ekitike made his comeback from injury, alongside the introduction of Ibrahima Konate and Wirtz.

The Barnsley bench was incensed when the officials were unmoved by appeals that Szoboszlai had brought down Reyes Cleary as he attacked into the area. Replays confirmed the Reds man won the ball.

Van Dijk was inches away from restoring a two-goal advantage with a header across the net from Cody Gakpo’s dinked centre, the ball falling just wide.

At the other end, Szoboszlai was in the right place near the goalline to clear away a Phillips shot, and next his brilliant cross from deep was prodded too high by Wirtz at close range.

But the Germany international made no mistake six minutes from the end, linking up with Ekitike and dispatching a curler home in front of the Kop.

And the same pair combined deep into stoppage time for Ekitike to add his name to the scoresheet, with Liverpool booking a round-four fixture against Brighton.

Attendance: 60,206