Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers vs Barnsley as Jeremie Frimpong and 3 more stand out

Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers vs Barnsley as Dominik Szoboszlai, Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike scored in the FA Cup to book a fourth round place

Jeremie Frimpong celebrates scoring Liverpool's second goal against Barnsley at Anfield.(Image: PETER POWELL / AFP via Getty Images)

ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL // Dominik Szoboszlai scored a sensational goal from distance to send Liverpool on its way to the FA Cup fourth round, but only after a couple of early scares, a major error, and a slightly nervy second half.

Only one player in League One has scored more goals than Barnsley's Davis Keillor-Dunn so far this season and he hit the post with the first attack of the game. The third division side, for a spell, looked threatening.

Ultimately, however, the quality that Liverpool has told. While Barnsley looked like scoring at times, the Reds were ruthless, with Jeremie Frimpong slamming a shot past Murphy Cooper around nine minutes before the half-time break.

A calamitous mistake from an overconfident Szoboszlai allowed Adam Phillips to score from close range, making things much tighter and more nervous than they needed to be, but Liverpool got over the line in the end, with Florian Wirtz and then Hugo Ekitike making the result safe late on.

Winners

Dominik Szoboszlai was looking like he was going to make this category before his bizarre error. The Hungarian midfielder was looking like a star of the show until that moment, after which he looked crestfallen. His goal at the other end was brilliant and he was running the game before he ended up being too cocky.

Jeremie Frimpong was perhaps the biggest winner aside from that. He looked lively, and Liverpool can be a winner from that, too. With Conor Bradley out for the rest of the season, he is going to need to step up. Wirtz looked good too, scoring and assisting, but he only had a cameo.

Losers

No one came out of this without any credit, though most were just fine rather than spectacular. Even for the visitor, Barnsley put in a good showing that its players and coaching staff can be proud of.

Conor Hourihane just needed his attackers to be a bit more clinical and for his team to get a bit more luck. Liverpool was, fortunately for the Reds and Arne Slot, able to score enough goals to get over the line.

Player ratings

Giorgi Mamardashvili (7). The domestic cups should be the Georgian's, and he was needed at times here. He made a couple of decent saves and was good enough with his feet without doing anything spectacular.

Jeremie Frimpong (7). The Dutch full-back has mainly been used as a winger under Arne Slot so far, but he was in at right-back here, with Conor Bradley absent. He didn't spend much time that far back, though, and smashed a good shot into the net to double the Reds' lead. Lively.

Joe Gomez (6). A really good player when he is fit and in rhythm, this should help him get back into the swing of things. He might be needed at right-back in the weeks to come, and early on, especially, looked in need of removing the rust. Booked when he couldn't change direction quickly enough on the counter.

Virgil van Dijk (7). Offering some experience at the back, he needed to scoot back a few more times than he would have imagined when Barnsley countered. Some of his passing was brilliant as he switched play right and left. Only a superb save from Murphy Cooper denied him a goal.

Andy Robertson (6). Back in to give Milos Kerkez a rest, the Scotland captain enjoyed some time higher up the pitch than normal. Defended well enough, and, like Van Dijk, added some much-needed experience to the side.

Alexis Mac Allister (6). Much better against Arsenal than he has been for some time, the Argentine kept things ticking over here. He wasn't required to do much more but didn't fully stamp his authority on things.

Curtis Jones (6). In good form lately, the Scouser was playing against a couple of other former Liverpool youth players in Adam Phillips and Vimal Yoganathan. Made some good passes but gave possession away too easily at times.

Federico Chiesa (6). Starting just his fourth game of the season, the Italian linked nicely with Frimpong at times. Lacks a yard of pace to beat a man but was neat and tidy.

Dominik Szoboszlai (6). Scored an absolute cracker to open the scoring inside the first 10 minutes and was heavily involved throughout in one way or another. A bizarre backheel led to Barnsley's goal and he was perhaps slightly fortunate the referee didn't point to the spot when Reyes Cleary got past him.

Rio Ngumoha (6). Given a chance to impress (something that some fans have been clamoring for), the 17-year-old threw in a number of stepovers and tricks with a mixed success rate. He has all the ingredients to make it at the top but just needs to tie them together, which he didn't quite manage often enough here. A glimpse from him but nothing more.

Cody Gakpo (6). It was no shock that he was involved from the off; the Dutchman hasn't played as much as some of his senior teammates recently as a result of injury. He wasn't as involved as he would have wanted, though. Better, as you might expect, out wide, rather than through the center.

Substitutes

Ibrahima Konate (6). Came on with Gomez on a booking and needing to be managed. Got stuck in and was required to make a few blocks and tackles.

Florian Wirtz (7). Making his debut in this competition, the German was involved with lots of passes. Threaded one great pass into Gakpo and missed a big chance from close range before curling one into the top corner. Also set up Ekitike.

Hugo Ekitike (6). Making his return from injury, the French forward needed his first couple of touches to get his eye in. Wasn't quite up to speed after recent absences but scored from close range.