Liverpool moved into the FA Cup fourth round with a 4-1 win over Barnsley at Anfield, sealed by late goals from Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike. Dominik Szoboszlai scored a long-range strike and later gave away a goal, as Liverpool eventually pulled clear after a tense and occasionally nervous tie.
The hosts controlled most of the contest and created far more chances. Liverpool produced 21 shots worth 1.92 expected goals, compared with Barnsley’s nine attempts for 1.19 xG. Liverpool have now advanced from 14 of 15 FA Cup third-round ties since 2011-12, and extended an unbeaten run to 11 matches in all competitions.
The numbers underlined Liverpool’s attacking pressure, yet Barnsley competed well before fading late on. Barnsley have now gone out
of the FA Cup to Premier League opposition for the seventh successive time. Liverpool’s progression matched the third-round success rate of Chelsea and Manchester City over the same period, keeping the club among the competition’s most consistent performers.
Barnsley almost stunned Anfield inside the first minute. After just 28 seconds, Davis Keillor-Dunn met a cross and powered a header against the right post with Giorgi Mamardashvili beaten. Liverpool responded and went ahead after nine minutes, when Szoboszlai was left free and lifted a spectacular long-range effort beyond Murphy Cooper’s reach.
Liverpool appeared in full control when Jeremie Frimpong cut in from the right on 36 minutes and curled a precise shot into the roof of the net, shortly after Jonathan Bland had drawn a sharp stop from Mamardashvili. Barnsley, however, were gifted a route back when Szoboszlai’s backheel inside the area fell straight for Adam Phillips to finish from close range.
That mistake was notable statistically as well. Szoboszlai became the first Liverpool player to both score and commit an error leading directly to a goal in one match since Alexis Mac Allister did so against Tottenham in December 2024. Szoboszlai’s only first-half touch inside Liverpool’s penalty area was the misjudged backheel that produced Barnsley’s goal.
Liverpool increased the tempo after half-time and pushed Barnsley deeper. Barnsley claimed a penalty when Szoboszlai appeared to clip Reyes Cleary inside the box, but the appeals were dismissed. Wirtz then fired over from a promising position before, on 84 minutes, bending a composed finish past Cooper, and later setting up Ekitike for a first-time strike in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Were through to the #EmiratesFACup fourth round pic.twitter.com/2pHr9eKg8HLiverpool FC (@LFC) January 12, 2026
Late contributions from Wirtz and Ekitike ensured Liverpool’s superiority finally showed on the scoreboard and eased any remaining tension inside Anfield. Barnsley’s early threat and continued resistance highlighted the effort from the visiting side, yet Liverpool’s sustained pressure, stronger bench and recent consistent form ultimately decided the FA Cup third-round contest.
