Liverpool Vs Barnsley Player Ratings: Dominant Reds Cruise to 4-1 Victory

What a night at Anfield. Liverpool put on a show for the home crowd, dispatching Barnsley in this FA Cup tie with a commanding 4-1 victory. From our perspective, the result was never really in doubt, especially after Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring with an absolute rocket. It was one of those moments that just takes your breath away.

The Reds looked fluid, sharp, and hungry. Alexis Mac Allister was pulling the strings in midfield, bagging two assists and just running the game with effortless class. Barnsley, to their credit, didn't just roll over. They had a brief moment of hope when A. Phillips clawed one back just before halftime, which made things interesting for a moment. We noticed a flicker of fight in them.

But the second half was all Liverpool. They reasserted their control, created chance after chance, and the substitutes came on to hammer the final nails in the coffin. It was a thoroughly professional performance that sees them march on in the cup. This match was a clear statement of intent.

Liverpool Player Ratings vs Barnsley

Goalkeeper

Giorgi Mamardashvili - 6.5: Had a relatively quiet evening for the most part. He couldn't do much about the goal he conceded. Made a couple of routine saves when called upon and his distribution was solid enough. From our perspective, it was a steady but untested performance for the keeper.

Defenders

Joe Gomez - 6.0: A mixed bag from Gomez before he was substituted. He picked up a clumsy yellow card and lost a few duels. He did contribute to the build-up play with accurate passing but seemed a little off the pace at times. It wasn't his best day at the office, but he did his job without any major errors leading to chances.

Virgil van Dijk - 7.5: A real captain's performance. The Dutchman was imperious at the back, winning almost everything in the air and on the ground. He was a calming presence, constantly organizing the backline and stepping out with the ball. He even came close to scoring, hitting the woodwork. What stood out to us was his complete control of the defensive third.

Andrew Robertson - 6.5: Tireless running down the left flank as always. He was a constant outlet for the team, getting into advanced positions time and again. However, his final product was a little lacking tonight. Only one of his eight crosses found a teammate, which was frustrating to watch. Defensively he was sound, but we expect a bit more quality from him in attack.

Jeremie Frimpong - 7.5: An electric performance for the 60 minutes he was on the pitch. He was a nightmare for the Barnsley defence with his pace and directness. He took his goal brilliantly, a powerful finish that gave the keeper no chance. A real attacking weapon who was rightly taken off to rest after putting the game to bed.

Midfielders

Dominik Szoboszlai - 9.5: Simply sensational. This was a man of the match display by a country mile. His goal was a thing of beauty, a long-range missile that flew into the top corner. Beyond the goal, his all-around game was incredible; he was everywhere. Recovering the ball 12 times, making key passes, and driving the team forward with every touch. An almost perfect performance.

Alexis Mac Allister - 8.5: The creative genius in the middle of the park. Two assists for the Argentine, who dictated the tempo of the entire game. His vision and weight of pass were exceptional, slicing open the Barnsley defence. He made everything look so simple. A masterclass in midfield play before he was given a well-deserved rest.

Federico Chiesa - 6.0: A quiet game for the Italian. He showed flashes of his skill and had a couple of shots blocked, but he struggled to make a significant impact. We noticed he seemed a bit isolated out wide at times. It was no surprise to see him substituted on the hour mark as he just couldn't get into the rhythm of the match.

Curtis Jones - 7.5: A very busy and effective performance. Jones was all action, creating four chances and constantly looking to break the lines. He linked up play beautifully between midfield and attack. What stood out was his desire to get on the ball and make things happen. A really mature and confident display.

Rio Ngumoha - 7.0: Showed great promise with his direct dribbling and energy. He was a handful for the opposition defenders, drawing fouls and looking to create. His performance was unfortunately cut short by an injury, which was a real shame. From our perspective, he was on his way to having a great game.

Forwards

Cody Gakpo - 7.0: A frustrating night for the forward in front of goal, but his contribution was still significant. His link-up play was excellent, and he created three chances for his teammates. He worked hard, won his duels, and was a constant presence. He just couldn't find that finishing touch himself, with the keeper denying him on one occasion.

Substitutes

Ibrahima Konaté - 6.5: Came on for Gomez and looked solid and untroubled. Kept things simple and ensured there were no late scares.

Florian Wirtz - 7.5: Made an immediate impact. Looked lively and took his goal well to make it 3-1. A great cameo.

Hugo Ekitiké - 7.0: Added another dimension to the attack and grabbed the fourth goal to seal the win.

Ryan Gravenberch - 6.5: Slotted into midfield seamlessly after Ngumoha's injury and helped Liverpool maintain control.

Trey Nyoni - N/A: Came on too late to make a real impact.

Manager

A. Slot - 8.0: Set his team up perfectly for a comfortable win. His tactics allowed his creative players to flourish. His substitutions were spot on, with two of them getting on the scoresheet. An excellent night's work for the manager.

Barnsley Player Ratings vs Liverpool

Goalkeeper

Murphy Cooper - 5.0: A difficult, difficult night for the keeper. He conceded four goals, and his distribution was poor. However, he also made three saves, a couple of which prevented the scoreline from becoming even more embarrassing. It's tough to be too critical when facing such a relentless attack, but it was a performance he'll want to forget.

Defenders

Jack Shepherd - 6.5: Fought like a lion at the back. He put his body on the line, blocking an incredible five shots and making seven clearances. He was constantly under pressure but never shirked the challenge. A valiant effort in a losing cause.

M. de Gevigney - 5.5: He made a massive ten clearances, which shows how much defending he had to do. However, he struggled to cope with the movement and pace of Liverpool's attackers. He was caught out of position a few times. A battling performance but ultimately outclassed.

Corey O'Keeffe - 5.0: A really tough evening for O'Keeffe. He struggled defensively, giving away three fouls and losing most of his duels. He was tenacious but couldn't contain the waves of Liverpool attacks down his flank. He looked overwhelmed for large parts of the game.

Nathanael Ogbeta - 6.0: Had a decent game before being substituted. He was solid in his defensive duties, making a couple of clearances and interceptions. He didn't offer much going forward but stuck to his task well. A respectable outing.

T. Watson - 6.0: A solid if unspectacular display. He was tidy in possession and made a few important clearances and interceptions. He held his position well and wasn't directly at fault for the goals. A disciplined performance under immense pressure.

Midfielders

A. Phillips - 7.0: Barnsley's best player on the night. He provided their moment of magic with a well-taken goal that gave them a glimmer of hope. He looked to be a threat and his delivery was good. He was the one player who looked capable of hurting Liverpool before he was subbed off.

Reyes Cleary - 6.0: Worked incredibly hard for the team. He showed some nice touches and successful dribbles, trying to carry the fight to Liverpool. He won a good number of his duels but was often fighting a losing battle in midfield. A spirited performance.

J. Bland - 5.5: It was a tough battle in the middle of the park, and Bland was largely overrun. He was dribbled past five times, highlighting his struggle against Liverpool's quality. He worked hard and made some tackles but couldn't get a foothold in the game.

Vimal Yoganathan - 6.0: A busy performance focused on defensive duties. He made four recoveries and three interceptions, trying to break up Liverpool's play. He was disciplined and worked tirelessly for the team until he was substituted late on.

Forwards

D. Keillor-Dunn - 6.5: The captain looked dangerous, especially in the first half. He was unlucky to hit the post with a header early on. He was Barnsley's main outlet and tried to make things happen with his dribbling. His influence faded as Liverpool took complete control.

Substitutes

Connell - 5.5: Came on and struggled to get involved in the game.

Patrick Kelly - 5.5: Had little opportunity to change the flow of the match.

David McGoldrick - 6.0: Looked to make things happen and had a headed chance go off target.

Georgie Gent - N/A: Not enough time to warrant a rating.

Manager

C. Hourihane - 6.0: His team was ultimately outclassed, but he can be proud of their fight. They were well-organized and managed to score at Anfield, which is no small feat. He set them up to be resilient, but the sheer quality of the opposition was too much.