Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai experienced the extreme highs and lows of football in a matter of minutes during Monday night's FA Cup third-round clash at Anfield, ultimately gifting League One side Barnsley a crucial route back into the contest.
A Dream Start Turns Sour
The match began perfectly for the heavily favoured Premier League giants. Inside the opening ten minutes, Dominik Szoboszlai, widely considered one of Liverpool's standout performers this season, unleashed a spectacular long-range strike to break the deadlock. His powerful effort was followed soon after by a goal from Jeremie Frimpong, seemingly putting the Reds in a commanding position against their third-tier opposition.
However, the narrative took a dramatic twist just before the half-time whistle. In a moment of inexplicable misjudgement, Szoboszlai transformed from match-winner to culprit. While dribbling in his own penalty area under pressure from Barnsley's Adam Phillips—a former Liverpool academy player—the Hungarian international attempted an audacious back-heel pass to his goalkeeper, Giorgi Mamardashvili.
A Costly Moment of Madness
The attempted flick went horribly wrong, presenting the ball directly to Phillips. The Barnsley midfielder, a graduate of Liverpool's youth system, accepted the gift gratefully, slotting home to reduce the deficit to 2-1. The camera immediately cut to a stunned Szoboszlai, frozen in disbelief, while Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk watched on with his hands on his head in despair.
The error sparked immediate and fierce criticism from pundits. Speaking on TNT Sports, former Reds star Steve McManaman did not hold back: "I just don't like that at all. I know the lads said it's a mistake... I don't like it because you would never do it in any walk of life. He wouldn't do it against Arsenal or Manchester City... why he is doing it against Barnsley, I don't know."
Pundits Question 'Arrogant' Mistake
Co-commentator Joleon Lescott echoed the sentiment, branding the mistake as needlessly arrogant. "It seemed to be an arrogant mistake, which is not nice and there is never a time to back heel in your six-yard box. I don't know why he has tried to do it," Lescott stated.
The incident, which occurred on January 12, 2026, served as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of the FA Cup and how individual errors can swiftly change the complexion of a tie. While Liverpool had looked comfortable, Szoboszlai's moment of madness handed Barnsley significant momentum and a lifeline heading into the second half at Anfield.
