Liverpool vs Barnsley – Match Summary
Liverpool booked their place in the FA Cup Fourth Round with a convincing 4–1 victory over League One side Barnsley at Anfield. Arne Slot’s side dominated from the outset, with Alexis Mac Allister pulling the strings in midfield, setting up two first-half goals. Barnsley briefly threatened a shock when Adam Phillips pulled one back before the break, but Liverpool’s quality shone through in the second half. Substitutes Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitiké proved to be the difference-makers, combining late on to add two goals and seal a comfortable win for the Reds.
Liverpool vs Barnsley – Final Score
Liverpool 4–1 Barnsley
(HT: 2–1)
Goals:
- 9’ — Dominik Szoboszlai (LIV)
- 36’ — Jeremie Frimpong (LIV)
- 40’ — Adam Phillips (BAR)
- 84’ — Florian Wirtz (LIV)
- 90+4’ — Hugo Ekitiké (LIV)
Liverpool vs Barnsley – Timeline & Events
- 9’ — ⚽ GOAL! Liverpool take an early lead! Alexis Mac Allister plays a perfect ball to Dominik Szoboszlai, who fires home to settle the nerves. (1–0)
- 32’ — 🟨 Card: Joe Gomez (LIV) is booked for a clumsy challenge.
- 36’ — ⚽ GOAL! It’s two! Mac Allister is the architect again, finding Jeremie Frimpong in space, and the Dutchman makes no mistake. (2–0)
- 40’ — ⚽ GOAL! Barnsley are back in it! Against the run of play, Adam Phillips capitalizes on a defensive lapse to silence the Kop. (2–1)
- 60’ — 🔄 Subs: Arne Slot makes a triple change to regain control: Wirtz, Ekitiké, and Konaté replace Frimpong, Chiesa, and Gomez.
- 84’ — ⚽ GOAL! Game over! The substitutes combine brilliantly. Hugo Ekitiké sets up Florian Wirtz, who finishes clinically to restore the two-goal cushion. (3–1)
- 90+4’ — ⚽ GOAL! The icing on the cake. In stoppage time, Wirtz returns the favor, assisting Hugo Ekitiké for Liverpool’s fourth. (4–1)
First Half Analysis
Liverpool started with high intensity, controlling 75% of the possession and pinning Barnsley back. Alexis Mac Allister was the standout performer, providing two exquisite assists to dismantle the visitors’ low block. However, Liverpool’s high line was exposed just before halftime when Adam Phillips scored a well-taken goal, giving Barnsley hope and highlighting some defensive fragility in the absence of Virgil van Dijk’s usual partners.
Second Half Analysis
The game remained competitively poised until the hour mark when Arne Slot introduced his heavy hitters. The introduction of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitiké changed the dynamic completely, adding pace and precision to the attack. Barnsley tired visibly as they chased shadows, and Liverpool ruthlessly exploited the gaps in the final 10 minutes. The 4–1 scoreline reflected Liverpool’s dominance, but Barnsley can hold their heads high for their spirited display.
- xG Reality Check: Liverpool 1.98 | Barnsley 1.19
- Analysis: While Liverpool dominated the ball, the xG suggests Barnsley created high-quality chances when they did attack. The 4–1 scoreline flatters Liverpool slightly in terms of “expected” goals, largely due to elite finishing from Wirtz and Ekitiké.
Key Match Factors
- Impact Subs: Wirtz (1G, 1A) and Ekitiké (1G, 1A) came off the bench and directly contributed to the final two goals.
- Mac Allister’s Vision: The Argentine’s two assists in the first half broke Barnsley’s resistance early.
- Possession Dominance: Liverpool held 75% possession and completed 667 passes, wearing down the League One side.
- Defensive Lapse: Barnsley’s goal came from their only real spell of pressure, punishing a rare error from Gomez.
Player of the Match
🏆 Florian Wirtz (Liverpool)
A game-changing cameo. Coming on in the 60th minute, he scored one, assisted another, and completely took the game away from Barnsley. (Rating: 8.5)
Liverpool vs Barnsley – Player Ratings
| Liverpool | Rating | Barnsley | Rating |
| Mamardashvili | 7.0 | Cooper | 6.0 |
| Frimpong | 7.5 | O’Keeffe | 6.0 |
| Gomez | 6.0 | Watson | 6.0 |
| Van Dijk | 7.0 | De Gevigney | 6.5 |
| Robertson | 7.0 | Shepherd | 6.0 |
| Mac Allister | 8.0 | Ogbeta | 6.0 |
| Szoboszlai | 7.5 | Phillips | 7.0 |
| Jones | 7.0 | Bland | 6.0 |
| Chiesa | 6.5 | Yoganathan | 6.0 |
| Gakpo | 7.0 | Cleary | 6.0 |
| Ngumoha | 6.5 | Keillor-Dunn | 6.5 |
| Wirtz (Sub) | 8.5 | ||
| Ekitiké (Sub) | 8.3 |
Liverpool vs Barnsley – Match Stats
| Stat | Liverpool | Barnsley |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 1.98 | 1.19 |
| Possession | 75% | 25% |
| Total Shots | 21 | 9 |
| Shots on Target | 7 | 4 |
| Big Chances | 2 | 1 |
| Corners | 11 | 5 |
| Passes (Accuracy) | 667 (91%) | 173 (75%) |
| Fouls | 6 | 7 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 0 |
| Goalkeeper Saves | 2 | 3 |
Top 5 Performers
- Florian Wirtz (LIV): changed the game instantly with a goal and an assist.
- Hugo Ekitiké (LIV): A lethal cameo alongside Wirtz, showing great composure.
- Alexis Mac Allister (LIV): Controlled the midfield and provided two key assists.
- Jeremie Frimpong (LIV): A constant threat on the right wing and took his goal well.
- Adam Phillips (BAR): The bright spark for Barnsley, scoring their only goal and working tirelessly.
Underperformers / Weak Links
- Joe Gomez (LIV): Looked shaky at the back, picked up a yellow card, and was subbed off after 60 minutes.
- Federico Chiesa (LIV): Struggled to make a significant impact before being substituted.
Substitutions Impact
- Florian Wirtz (LIV): Replaced Frimpong (60′) – Rating: 8.5. Immediate impact.
- Hugo Ekitiké (LIV): Replaced Chiesa (60′) – Rating: 8.3. Scored and assisted.
- Ibrahima Konaté (LIV): Replaced Gomez (60′) – Rating: 7.1. Stabilized the defense.
Tactical Breakdown
- Liverpool:
- Overloading the Flanks: Used Frimpong and Robertson high up the pitch, resulting in 11 corners.
- High Press: Forced Barnsley into long balls (only 35% long pass accuracy for Barnsley).
- Barnsley:
- 5-4-1 Low Block: Tried to frustrate Liverpool and hit on the counter using Keillor-Dunn and Phillips.
- Direct Play: Relied on set-pieces and transitions, which yielded their only goal.
What This Result Means
- Liverpool: Advance to the FA Cup 4th Round. They remain in contention for all major trophies under Arne Slot.
- Barnsley: Eliminated from the cup but can take pride in scoring at Anfield. They return focus to their League One campaign.
Next Fixtures
📅 Liverpool: vs Manchester United (Premier League)
📅 Barnsley: vs Peterborough (League One)
Liverpool vs Barnsley – FAQs
Q: Who won the Liverpool vs Barnsley match?
A: Liverpool won 4–1.
Q: Who scored the goals?
A: Szoboszlai, Frimpong, Wirtz, and Ekitiké for Liverpool; Phillips for Barnsley.
Q: Did any youth players play?
A: Yes, youngster Rio Ngumoha started for Liverpool on the left wing.
Q: Who was the Man of the Match?
A: Florian Wirtz, for his goal and assist off the bench.
Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community
Are Wirtz and Ekitiké the best super-subs in the league right now? And how far can Liverpool go in the FA Cup?
Let us know in the comments below!
Read more:-
13/1/2026 Match Reports
Liverpool vs Barnsley – Match Report
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Juventus vs Cremonese – Match Report
Sevilla vs Celta Vigo – Match Report
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