Overview
- Liverpool advanced after a tense night at Anfield, with Dominik Szoboszlai scoring a long‑range opener before his backheel error gifted Adam Phillips a lifeline for Barnsley.
- Jeremie Frimpong made it 2-0 with a powerful left‑footed strike, shortly after Barnsley had hit the post inside the first 30 seconds through Davis Keillor‑Dunn.
- Referee Farai Hallam waved away Reyes Cleary's second‑half penalty appeal against Szoboszlai, and competition rules meant there was no VAR to review the incident.
- Substitutes Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike settled the tie late on, with Wirtz curling in on 84 minutes before assisting Ekitike for a stoppage‑time fourth.
- Arne Slot said he will address Szoboszlai’s risky backheel decision, as Liverpool confirmed right‑back Conor Bradley faces season‑ending knee surgery.