Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunning strike helped Liverpool into the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup with a 4-1 win over Barnsley.
The Hungarian rifled home from outside the box to put the Reds ahead and Jeremie Frimpong doubled the lead before half time.
But Barnsley fought back through Adam Phillips, who netted on his return to Anfield, and Conor Hourihane’s side made the eight-time winners work hard for their victory.
It took until the 84th minute for Liverpool to restore their two goal cushion, as Florian Wirtz curled home.
Hugo Ekitiké wrapped up the win late on to ensure Liverpool will welcome Brighton & Hove Albion in the next round.
Liverpool take the lead courtesy of a thunderous strike from Dominik Szoboszlai 💥
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 12, 2026
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The Tykes made an electric start at Anfield, as Davis Keillor-Dunn thundered a header against the post inside the opening minute.
The League One side continued on the front foot as Nathanael Ogbeta fired a shot narrowly over the bar.
However, it was the Premier League champions who made the breakthrough after just nine minutes.
Szoboszlai was afforded space on the edge of the box and the Hungarian spectacularly let fly to fire past Murphy Cooper in emphatic fashion.
Barnsley refused to let the early goal dent their confidence and had another sight of goal through Keillor-Dunn, who shot wide.
Liverpool increasingly began to dominate proceedings, with Szoboszlai seeing another shot blocked by Jack Shepherd.
The visitors retained a threat on the break and Giorgi Mamardashvili was forced into a smart save from Jonathan Bland after Corey O’Keefe forced a corner.
Keillor-Dunn was then again involved as the main threat for the Tykes, but his effort was easily stopped by Mamardashvili after getting past Virgil van Dijk.
Liverpool then doubled their lead, as Frimpong smashed home into the roof of the net after cutting inside into the box.
A lifeline for Barnsley 👀
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 12, 2026
Adam Phillips takes advantage to reduce the deficit to one.
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Barnsley hit back just four minutes later, as former Liverpool player Phillips pounced on a miscued backheel inside the box from Szoboszlai to fire home to halve the deficit five minutes before the break.
The visitors started the second half brightly but Cooper was forced into a strong save a Van Dijk volley just before the hour.
Both sides continued to push forward without too much in the way of clear cut chances until Liverpool substitute wasted a golden chance after Szoboszlai found him with a cross.
The German made amends five minutes later as he wrapped up victory after he combined with fellow substitute Ekitiké before curling past Cooper.
Barnsley continued to push for another goal and came very close to reducing the deficit once more, but Vimal Yoganathan was just unable to reach Reyes Cleary’s cross.
Liverpool put the finishing touches on victory as Ekitiké rounded off the evening by turning home Wirtz’s cross.
