Adam Phillips made feelings clear on Anfield return before FA Cup goal against Liverpool

Barnsley midfielder and former Liverpool player Adam Phillips played well against his boyhood side in a 4-1 FA Cup loss after feeling goosebumps in his return to Anfield

Adam Phillips held his own against the Liverpool midfield(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool survived a nervy first half to oust League One side Barnsley with a 4-1 win on Monday to advance to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

One of Barnsley's standout players was midfielder Adam Phillips, a former star of the Liverpool youth academy when he was a young player and friend of Curtis Jones. "Finally here now, exciting, just taking it all in," he said of his return to Anfield on TNT sports pregame. "Being on the pitch there… looking forward to kick now."

Phillips took advantage of a Dominik Szoboszlai attempted piece of flair late in the first half to score Barnsley's opener.

The Hungarian midfielder attempted a backheel pass in his own box to goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. Phillips intercepted and slotted home to make the score 2-1 in favor of the Reds, headed into the half.

Liverpool won 4-1 thanks to goals from Szoboszlai, Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike, setting up a fourth-round matchup against Brighton.

Phillips, 27, came on for the Reds in a 2014 preseason game as a substitute for Philippe Coutinho. This would be his only appearance in Liverpool colors.

“Yeah, I came on for Philippe Coutinho,” he told The Athletic. “The whole trip was an amazing experience. I’d only just left school. It was a real learning curve being away for a few weeks and training with all the senior players in that environment."

Phillips lined up for Liverpool as a youth players(Image: Getty Images)

He moved to Norwich City in 2017 but never appeared for the side, instead being subjected to a series of loan moves.

Phillips moved to Burnley in 2019 and ultimately to Barnsley in 2022, earning the club's player of the season award for the 2023/24 season. He had never played in League One again.

"I was buzzing [when the draw happened]," he told BBC Sport after Barnsley drew Liverpool in the FA Cup. "I ran upstairs screaming at my missus. I couldn't believe it, I'm still a massive Liverpool fan.

"I was at the 4-0 [Champions League] win against Barcelona in 2019. If Liverpool are on, I'm zoned in, and whenever I can, I'll go to Anfield to watch them too."

"I'll get goosebumps when You'll Never Walk Alone is played. The dream was always to play for Liverpool, but not many make it, so I'm happy to play there for Barnsley. It'll be a special experience."