LIVERPOOL 4 – 1 BARNSLEY
Home Team: Szoboszlai 9’, Frimpong 36’, Wirtz 84’, Ekitiké 90+4’
Away Team: Phillips 40’
Pre-Match
I surely am not alone in expecting to see more unfamiliar names on the team sheet, with mainstay Dominik
Szoboszlai’s start amongst the more surprising. Though Arne Slot certainly rotated his side — starts for Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha, after all — the spine of the side is nonetheless one of experience.
On the whole, it feels like a balanced bit of rotation: yes, Virgil Van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, and Curtis Jones start, but Jeremie Frimpong and Cody Gakpo might be argued to be “building fitness” still after injuries. Meanwhile, Giorgi Mamardashvili comes in for Alisson, Andy Robertson for Miloš Kerkez, and Joe Gomez gives Ibrahuma Konaté a rest. Everyone here has first team experience, even if most are not among Slot’s first choice XI.
It’s also the lack of youth on the bench that gives you pause in the end: no one will be making their debut today, and it’s that, perhaps, that seems the strangest. The Reds do have until Saturday until the next match (rather than a weekend-to-midweek turnaround), there is travel involved.
First Half
Ignoring the opening minute, which could have spelled disaster, Liverpool were largely industrious and in control — but even if it mostly felt like a sige Barnsley harboured some threat, mostly through Reyes Cleary’s intelligent movement down the left side of the pitch.
The Liverpool threat largely presented itself down the right side. Though Ngumoha was busy down the left, he often felt disconnected from his teammates: it seemed almost as if the Liverpool coach told his young winger to go out there and ball out, see what happens.
The Reds scored two brilliant goals, both stemming from Alexis Mac Allister nonchalantly distributing the ball around Barnsley’s dense defensive structure. Szoboszlai took advantage of time and space around the area to pick out the corner, while Frimpong gave us all a reminder of what he got up to in Germany: taking on a defender, remaining strong, and powering a shot in from a relatively tight angle.
A few minutes later, though, you wonder if Szoboszlai wouldn’t chalk his effort off in exchange for the gift he provided Adam Phillips at the other end. The less said about that the better, but worth remembering all the more youthful members of the audience that right in front of your goal is not the place to attempt bits of skill.
Second Half
Van Dijk is unlucky to see the Barnsley keeper save a volley played in with impressive technique: Liverpool’s short corner routine almost paid off, but it’s the visitors proud of themselves in the end.
The substitutions from Slot on 60’ favor more experience, with Florian Wirtz, Ibrahima Konaté, and Hugo Ekitiké coming on for Federico Chiesa, Joe Gomez, and Jeremie Frimpong. Szoboszlai at right back was almost an immediate issue due to Cleary’s pace, but the penalty shout was pretty clearly dispelled upon a look at the replays: the Liverpool midfielder got a touch on the ball, and any alleged “push” lacked enough force to bring the player down. The referee was well-positioned and signalled play on immediately, so the drama was really for everyone else.
Cody Gakpo was unlucky not to register an assist in the ensuing period, with Van Dijk heading a good floated cross very narrowly wide. We’re settling into almost the standard “Liverpool v a low block” gear here, but there are flashes of promise. Apart from Van Dijk’s two chances, though, there are few chances that are uncontested.
With Ryan Gravenberch on for Rio Ngumoha, Liverpool on 75’ appear akin to a first choice team, albeit one with Szoboszlai deputizing at right back. Though the scoreline is narrow — and Barnsley certainly look to believe they can get something — it wouldn’t have be nice to see natural right back Calvin Ramsay, so long sidelined by injury, get a few minutes. It is worth noting, of course, that Joe Gomez’s limited minutes are surely in service of keeping him fit should he be needed on the right rather than just centrally.
The buildup has shown creativity today, especially as the line-up got closer and closer to the first choice. It nonetheless lacked the final ball in the congested Barnsley penalty area. As Gakpo sent a contested header over just before the 80th minute, you found yourself trying to recall the last chance on target for Liverpool — or even the last clear-cut chance.
And then, just when you buckled in for a standard 2025/26 Liverpool nervy final 10, Ekitiké got clever, sending Wirtz through with a bit of skill that took his defender out of the game. There was no saving Wirtz’s effort, which he let fly from just inside the box. Say what you will about Liverpool today, they have given us “goalkeeper full stretch to a powerful shot completely out of reach.” Fair play.
They even managed to add a fourth at the death in the form of a counter attack, with Wirtz staying narrowly onside and squaring to Ekitiké. That’s what a Liverpool goal looks like once there’s space in the box. Ignore that this contest was closer than 4-1 suggests, and just have a nice time.
Final Thoughts
Confidence appeared very high. Liverpool spent large periods with the full outfield team nearly camped in the final third. The skillful players were clearly given license to take players on, to take risks — we saw this most in Ngumoha and Wirtz, with the latter more willing to take things on and lose the ball than usual. Their goal came in the form of a gift they didn’t particularly order. In the end, Szoboszlai probably will shake hands on banger goal for gift at the other end, given the result in the end.
It was a good performance from Liverpool, and perhaps it’s only the results in recent weeks that make you want to leave off watching feeling a bit more dazzled. But job done, unbeaten in eleven. Perhaps I should quibble less. On we go.
