Liverpool 4 – 1 Barnsley
Reds: Szoboszlai 9’, Frimpong 36’, Wirtz 84’, Ekitike 90+4’
Barnsley: Phillips 40’
Pre-Match
As promised, it’s a strong lineup from Arne Slot. Joe Gomez comes in at center back, Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha both
line up in attack, but elsewhere it’s pretty much as expected.
First Half
Liverpool star the match against the team in 17th place in League 1…by nearly immediately conceding. Barnsley rattle a header from close range off the post. That certainly is a way to start a match against a heavy underdog.
Dominik Szoboszlai opens up the scoring with a wicked strike from distance, easily beating the League 1 keeper. More of that please. Let’s see some goals for once this season!
The highlight of the half so far is Gakpo running the full length of the pitch holding one of his boots in his hand. I guess he thinks playing in one shoe will make him more relateable to the poor people he rents slums to.
Jeremie Frimpong gets his name on the score sheet, beating a defender in the box before absolutely leathering it past the keeper. Only bangers tonight, lads!
So, I was literally about to make a joke, now that it’s 2-0, do we concede now or to start the second half? Well, Szoboszlai answered that for me by deciding to fuck around in his own 6 yard box, and gift Barnsley a goal. Fun!
Well, between bangers, baffling defensive errors, and slumlords running down the pitch without shoes on, this match has it all! At least we’re not bored!
Second Half
On the hour mark, Slot brings off Gomez, Frimpong, and Chiesa for Konate, Wirtz, and Ekitike.
It looks like Rio will have to come off early after it appears he picked up a knock on the sideline. He immediately grabbed his groin, which isn’t a great sign. Anyway. Gravenberch is on to either help see out the win, or help ensure a hilarious collapse.
Wirtz gets his goal in the dying minutes of regulation time, which should seal the win for The Reds. And it’s a very sexy goal at that! Some nice interplay at the edge of the box set Wirtz through on goal, and he fired it home with aplomb.
Final Thoughts
Welp, it was a win, and The Reds will play Brighton in the next round. Meanwhile, Manchester City will play either Salford City (who they played last year) or Swindon Town (who they played in 2022).
It wasn’t always pretty, but it was largely comfortable.
