Liverpool 4-1 Barnsley Highlights, FA Cup Third Round: Reds Overcome Szoboszlai Error To Seal Big Win At Anfield

Hello, football fans! This is the start of our live blog covering Liverpool’s FA Cup clash against Barnsley at Anfield. Stay tuned for pre-match updates and line-ups as they are released.

• Fixture: Liverpool vs Barnsley

• Series: FA Cup 2025-26 Third Round

• Venue: Anfield, Liverpool

• Date: Monday, January 12, 2026

• Time: 1:15 AM IST (January 13)

Starting XI: Giorgi Mamardashvili; Andrew Robertson, Virgil van Dijk (c), Joe Gomez, Jeremie Frimpong; Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones; Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai, Rio Ngumoha; Federico Chiesa.

Bench: Alisson (gk), Ibrahima Konate, Milos Kerkez, Calvin Ramsay, Florian Wirtz, Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch, Trey Nyoni, Hugo Ekitike.

Starting XI: Murphy Cooper; Tennai Watson, Mael Durand de Gevigney, Jack Shepherd, Nathanael Ogbeta; Adam Phillips, Jonathan Bland; Corey O'Keeffe, Reyes Cleary, Vimal Yoganathan; Davis Keillor-Dunn (c).

Bench: Kieren Flavell (gk), Connor Barratt, Eoghan O'Connell, Marc Roberts, Georgie Gent, Patrick Kelly, David McGoldrick, Fabio Jalo, Leo Farrell.

Liverpool and Barnsley have faced each other 20 times across all competitions. Liverpool have won 12 of those games, compared to just four victories for Barnsley. Four matches have ended as draws.

The last time these two sides met was in the 2007-08 FA Cup, with Liverpool being stunned 2-1 by Barnsley at Anfield.

The FA Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Barnsley will be live-streamed on the SonyLIV app and website in India. Television broadcasts will take place on the Sony TEN 2 SD & HD TV channels.

With moments until kick-off, we bring the spotlight on a young player starting for Barnsley tonight – Vimal Yoganathan. The 19-year-old midfielder is a Wales U-21 international, born in Trelawnyd to Sri Lankan Tamil parents. Interestingly, Yoganathan spent time in Liverpool's academy before moving to Barnsley.

Referee Farai Hallam blows his whistle, and the Third Round match is underway at Anfield. Six changes made by Slot since their last league game, but the Reds will be heavy favourites against their third division opponents at home.

A brilliant start by the visitors, with Keillor-Dunn seeing a headed effort crash against the bar in the very first minute. Liverpool have regained control of the ball since, but it has been a confident performance from Barnsley in the opening five minutes, with Ogbeta's cross almost catching Mamardashvili out.

After a wobbly start, Liverpool's quality shines through as Szoboszlai puts his side ahead with a screamer from outside the box. Mac Allister teed up the Hungarian, who took the ball on his right before letting fly, beating Cooper. A non-challant celebration to go along with it.

After almost 15 minutes of absolute domination by Liverpool, Barnsley create an awkward moment when breaking forward in numbers. The ball is played to O'Keeffe on the right, whose cross almost turned into a shot that found the top corner, but Mamardashvili tipped it behind for a corner.

The resulting corner falls to Bland, who lets fly from outside the box that has Mamardashvili at full stretch to keep the danger out.

The ball is played through to Keillor-Dunn, who takes on van Dijk. Going past the Dutch defender, the Barnsley man has a shot at goal, but it's pretty tame and is an easy collection for Mamardashvili. Credit to the visitors for not giving up despite that early goal.

Another terrific finish, this time from Frimpong, which doubles the lead for Liverpool. The full-back receives the ball high on the right flank from Mac Allister. He gets the better of Ogbeta, cutting inside and hammering it past Cooper with his left.

What did you do, Szoboszlai?! The Hungarian has been, by some margin, the best player on the pitch in the first half, but he ends up gifting Barnsley with a goal.

A ball into the box by Barnsley is intercepted by Szoboszlai, who tries to be too clever and drag the ball behind. In the process, he loses control and Phillips steals it, poking it in from point-blank range past Mamardashvili.

The referee blows his whistle to bring the first half to an end. Despite Barnsley hitting the post in the first opening, Liverpool have ran the shot for most of the half, scoring two goals. However, Szboszlai's moment of madness have brought the visitors back into the match. A huge second half awaits us.

The players are out of the tunnel, and it's Liverpool who get the second half underway. No changes at the break from either side, but can Barnsley script another monumentous cup upset? For now, the hosts have a slender lead.

Liverpool have picked up where they left off, controlling the ball and attacking in numbers. Barnsley, meanwhile, are happy to sit back and absord hte presure. Van Dijk almost restored Liverpool's two-goal lead with a snap shot from an uncleared corner, but Cooper did brilliantly to tip it onto the crossbar.

It seems like Slot is in no mood to risk an upset. He brings on Ekitike, Wirtz, and Konate on. Chiesa, Gomez, and Frimpong come off, which means that Szoboszlai will slot in at right-back.

More drama in this cup tie? Szboszlai almost shot himself in the foot again after appearing to clip the onrushing Cleary. The referee waves play on amid huge protests from the Barnsley players and manager. There's no VAR in the third round, and the on-field call stays. No penalty!

Barnsley have regained a little bit of spring in their step in the last five minutes or so, and Hourihane opts to make a double change. Ogbeta makes way for O'Connell, and the goalscorer, Phillips, comes off for Kelly. The away fans are certainly making their voices heard!

Liverpool make a change of their own, with young Ngumoha being replaced by Gravenberch.

That had to go in!! More sublime stuff from Szboszlai, who plays in a terrific ball into the box from the wide position. Wirtz, darting in the box, is too casual with his effort, which flies over the bar. Really poor shot from the German.

With 10 minutes left to cause an upset, Barnsley make a change up top, with McGoldrick coming on for Keillor-Dunn, with the substitute being handed the captain's armband. Can this spark a comeback for the minnows?

Game, set, and match for Liverpool. Wirtz makes up for his earlier miss by netting the third goal for Liverpool. A lovely turn and flick from Ekitike sets up the German, who bends it into the corner past Cooper, who has no chance at all.

Another late goal for Liverpool, with Ekitike tapping in from close range after a brilliant cutback by Wirtz. It's another contentious call from the officials, who adjudged Wirtz to be onside, despite it looking really tight on replays. Nevertheless, it's a really flattering scoreline for the home side.

That is that! Liverpool have sealed a rather comfortable win at the end, despite being far from their best at home. Szoboszlai has been the headline man, impacting play at both ends of goal. Barnsley have played much better than what the scoreline suggests, but it's the home side who progress to the fourth round.