Liverpool defender Andy Robertson has publicly criticised teammate Dominik Szoboszlai for an "unacceptable" error that gifted Barnsley a comical goal during their FA Cup clash. The incident occurred on Monday 13 January 2026, marring an otherwise dominant 4-1 victory for the Reds at Anfield.
A Costly Moment of Madness
The game took a bizarre turn when Hungarian midfielder Szoboszlai attempted an audacious backheel flick on the very edge of Liverpool's six-yard box. The ill-advised trick presented the ball directly to Barnsley's Adam Phillips, who gratefully slotted home to bring the League One side back into the tie at 2-1.
Robertson revealed that goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was particularly angered by the concession, with the entire defensive unit frustrated at losing a clean sheet in such farcical circumstances. The Scotland captain admitted the goal made the final stages of the match "a bit nervy" before Liverpool eventually secured their passage to the next round.
Apologies and Internal Criticism
Robertson confirmed that Szoboszlai apologised to his teammates at half-time for the mistake, which was branded a "weird choice" by head coach Arne Slot. Slot went further, stating it was something a player shouldn't even attempt in a training session, let alone a competitive FA Cup fixture.
Barnsley manager Conor Hourihane added his voice to the criticism, labelling Szoboszlai's decision as "disrespectful" in the context of the match. Robertson acknowledged that the Liverpool squad had "a few choice words" with the midfielder immediately after the costly error.
Season's Form Offers Mitigation
Despite the severe criticism, Robertson was quick to defend Szoboszlai's overall contribution this season. He pointed to the midfielder's "magnificent" performances and his opening goal in the same match as reasons why he should be spared excessive blame.
"If anyone's performances can't get criticised this season, it's Dom's," Robertson stated. "He's been 100 percent every game this season and has this lapse of concentration which isn't great. We can't really afford that in the so-called bigger games."
The defender did, however, hint that Szoboszlai's earlier moment of brilliance—a 60-yard sprint that earned applause from The Kop—may have led to a momentary loss of focus that proved so expensive.
