Liverpool overcame a valiant effort from Barnsley to ebook their place within the FA Cup fourth spherical with a 3-1 victory at Anfield.
The League One aspect went toe-to-toe with the Premier League champions for a lot of the sport however have been undone by three sensible Liverpool strikes courtsey of Dominik Szoboszlai, Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, with Hugo Ekitike scoring a fourth in added time.
Barnsley went in 2-1 behind at half-time after former Reds academy participant Adam Phillips capitalise on a stunning Szoboszlai mistake and have been controvertially denied a penalty after the break whereas nonetheless only a aim down when the Hungarian introduced down the spectacular Reyes Cleary, who was named man of the match.
However the Reds rode the storm and finally noticed out the win to ebook a fourth-round tie in opposition to Brighton.
Szoboszlai stunner and howler in vigorous first half
Conor Hourihane’s League One virtually made a dream begin with lower than 30 seconds on the clock when Davis Keilor-Dunn out-jumped Joe Gomez and thumped a header in opposition to the put up with Giorgi Mamardashvili effectively crushed.
Cleary then managed to get in behind Virgil van Dijk however couldn’t discover Keilor-Dunn with the cross in what was a vigorous begin by the underdogs.
However the Premier League champions extinguished these early hopes when Szoboszlai picked up the ball from Alexis Mac Alliser before firing a thunderbolt into the top corner from 25 yards.
The aim didn’t appear to discourage the Tykes from their assured begin, with Keillor-Dunn testing Van Dijk once more with a pleasant run and shot which compelled a save out of Marmadashvilli.
However earlier than lengthy Liverpool have been 2-0 up because the guests have been as soon as once more reminded of the standard they have been up in opposition to as Frimpong drove inside earlier than lashing an effort into the again of the web together with his left foot.
However Barnsley diminished the parity to only one aim once more when former Liverpool academy participant Phillips discovered the web, nevertheless it was extra about an absolute horror mistake from goalscorer Szoboszlai.
The Hungarian carried the ball contained in the field earlier than bizarrely opting to backheel the ball to his goalkeeper – getting the flick all mistaken to current the best of alternatives for Phillips to faucet in.
One other assured begin from the guests noticed Cleary trigger loads of points on the left however Liverpool’s risk remained, with Rio Ngumoha seeing a teasing ball into the field go begging earlier than Van Dijk compelled a shocking reflex save from goalkeeper Murphy Cooper to tip it over the bar.
Cleary burst by on the left as soon as once more earlier than being introduced down by the ever-involved Szoboszlai contained in the field, however referee Farai Hallam opted to not award the penalty regardless of seemingly pulling the shirt of the Barnsley man and making a slight contact together with his leg – with an angered Hourihane receiving a yellow card for his protests on the sidelines.
Van Dijk then couldn’t discover the nook with a pleasant header again throughout aim from Cody Gakpo’s cross because the vigorous encounter continued.
Substitute Florian Wirtz ought to then have wrapped the sport as much as flip in Szoboszlai’s cross however the German was too nonchalant together with his effort which sailed over the bar.
However Wirtz then made no mistake with a fair tougher end to lastly seal the victory after operating onto a Hugo Ekitike flick to lash the ball into the highest nook to proceed the theme of wonderful Liverpool strikes.
Barnsley continued to toil, significantly by the wonderful Cleary, however Liverpool broke on the break within the dying minutes as Ekitike slid dwelling the fourth.
