Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai produces 'unbelievable' error to gift Barnsley lifeline in FA Cup tie as Steve McManaman blasts 'massive mistake'

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Dominik Szoboszlai delivered one of the most startling moments of the Emirates FA Cup third round, with an "arrogant" lapse that handed League One side Barnsley a lifeline in their tie against Liverpool at Anfield. Liverpool appeared firmly in control heading into half-time, courtesy of goals from Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong. Szoboszlai’s glaring mistake then shifted the momentum in the tie.

‘What is he thinking?’ – Watch as Barnsley gifted lifeline after absurd Szoboszlai error

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Dominik Szoboszlai produced a contender for biggest gaffe of the Emirates FA Cup third round as his "arrogant" mistake presented League One side Barnsley with a gift-wrapped route back into their tie against Liverpool at Anfield.

The Reds were in a position of control heading towards half-time thanks to goals from Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong, but Szoboszlai produced a glaring error inside his own penalty area five minutes before the interval which allowed former Liverpool youngster Adam Phillips to halve the deficit.

The Hungary international was in possession of the ball having tracked Phillips' run and intercepted a cross. But in a moment of sheer complacency, the 25-year-old made a complete mess of his attempts to flick the ball back to his goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, allowing Phillips to pounce to score.

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"I just don't like that at all," Steve McManaman told TNT Sports. "I don't like that, because you would never do that in any walk of life or in any game of football.

"He would never do that against Arsenal, Manchester City. Why he's doing it against Barnsley, I will never know.

"Something must be going on in his mind where he was flicking the ball around throughout the first half looking comfortable, but you don't do that in those areas. That's a massive mistake."

‘I made it hard for us’ – Szoboszlai reflects on Liverpool win over Barnsley

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As the traveling 6,000 Barnsley fans celebrated, Szoboszlai looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him up.

The Tykes had come close to scoring after just 28 seconds when the lively Davis Keillor-Dunn struck the post with a header, but manager Conor Hourihane must have feared the worst when Frimpong added to Szoboszlai's crisp ninth-minute opener.

That his side were afforded a route back into the match was perhaps no less than Barnsley deserved on the balance of play, but there were no excuses for the lapse in focus from such an experienced member of Arne Slot's first-team squad.

Fellow pundit Joleon Lescott added: "It seems like an arrogant mistake from Szoboszlai, which is not nice. There is never a time to back-heel in your own six-yard box.

"You wouldn't expect that from a team-mate every week. But I suspect now they will have maximum concentration."

'He's gone from the sublime to the ridiculous!'

'Weird choice' - Slot has say on Szoboszlai error after Liverpool win

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On the gantry at Anfield, TNT Sports commentator Ally McCoist was left almost speechless at the incident. Szoboszlai, having impressed during Liverpool's goalless draw at Arsenal, had once more been his side's standout performer during the opening 45 minutes.

His long-range strike was one of several attempts with McCoist describing his rasping finish from outside the box as being "raw power".

But he was less impressed by what the game is likely to be remembered for, with Phillips gleefully accepting the present put on his plate.

"I don't know for a minute what that gentleman in the picture is thinking about," McCoist said, pointing at the crestfallen Szoboszlai. "He did so well to follow the run, initially. Did he stand on the ball? Did he try to back-heel it? He does!

"That is absolutely incredible. He's scored a brilliant goal. He's been brilliant in this first half, but I don't think I've seen a player of that quality do something like that, in an area of the pitch like that.

"I am stunned. He's been the best player on the pitch, and I can't quite believe what he's done. Is he thinking that Phillips is right next to him? You've got to play the way you're facing and clear the danger.

"He has officially gone from the sublime to the ridiculous."

‘Doesn’t do that in Champions League’ – Hourihane left ‘disappointed’ by Szoboszlai

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