Join the Miguel Delaney: Inside Football newsletter and get behind-the-scenes access and unrivalled insightJoin the Miguel Delaney: Inside Football newsletterJoin the Miguel Delaney: Inside Football newsletterFew score from 30 yards and create a goal with a backheel in the same game. When a player does, it could be cause for unadulterated joy. The sight of a crestfallen Dominik Szoboszlai told another tale. He struck for Liverpool in spectacular style, gifted Barnsley a goal with an embarrassing blunder and was the man of the match in the sense that it revolved around him to a remarkable extent; Barnsley wanted a penalty for his shirt tug on the lively Reyes Cleary. The night ended with Liverpool progressing in the FA Cup simultaneously because of and despite Szoboszlai. Szoboszlai has usually been the one who was blameless this season. Not this time, though a gaffe at least allowed Adam Phillips to realise an ambition. “Scoring in front of the Kop, Liverpool fan, coming through the academy; it’s something he can look back on for the rest of his life and say he did that,” said his manager, Conor Hourihane. When Szoboszlai looks back, it may be with more regret. The Hungarian first showed his side the way and was then punished for his showboating. His night began with a celebration and ended with an apology. “Sorry to the team again,” he said. “I made it hard for us. It was an easy mistake.” It may not spare him an inquest from an unhappy Arne Slot. “I don’t think you should do that in an FA Cup game or League Cup, a friendly game or even a training session,” he said. “It’s a weird choice but I prefer to speak about that with Dom.” Indeed, Szoboszlai united the two managers in criticism. “A little bit disrespectful from their player, I don’t think he does that against Chelsea or Arsenal or in a Champions League game,” said Barnsley’s Hourihane. Szoboszlai does at least score against both Arsenal and Barnsley. His sixth of the season means only Hugo Ekitike has more for Liverpool. It still necessitated a display of bench strength from Slot to take Liverpool through. Perhaps scarred by last season’s exit to Plymouth, when many of his replacements were rookies, he summoned Florian Wirtz and Ekitike, saw both score and assist and ended with a 4-1 scoreline that flattered his side. But on the day a former Liverpool favourite, Xabi Alonso, became an unemployed manager, victory may have been timely for Slot. His side are now…
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2026-01-13 00:18:21
