Liverpool booked their place in the FA Cup fourth round with a 4–1 victory over Barnsley, but despite the comfortable scoreline, one player’s display raised serious concerns and highlighted an area the club may need to strengthen.
The Reds opened the scoring in style through Dominik Szoboszlai, who smashed a stunning effort in from outside the box. Arne Slot’s side then went two goals clear when Jeremie Frimpong added a second.
Yet Liverpool were far from convincing overall. Szoboszlai’s night took a turn for the worse when a sloppy backheel gifted possession to Adam Phillips, allowing the Barnsley midfielder to score from close range. The League One visitors continued to threaten, even appealing for a second-half penalty when Reyes Cleary went down under a challenge from Szoboszlai, though the referee waved it away.
Barnsley’s resistance eventually faded late on, as Florian Wirtz curled home an excellent strike in the 84th minute before Hugo Ekitike wrapped things up with a fourth goal in stoppage time.
Liverpool Must Address Right-Sided Depth
Although Liverpool progressed and will now face Brighton, Slot is likely to demand improved performances across the board, with several players potentially at risk of losing their place. One of them is Federico Chiesa.
Despite calls from supporters for the £150,000-a-week winger to be given more opportunities—especially amid Mohamed Salah’s struggles—this FA Cup tie underlined why Chiesa has not featured more regularly. Starting on the right wing, the Italian international failed to influence the game. While he registered one key pass, he did not complete a single cross or dribble and failed to win any ground or aerial duels.
Chiesa also posed little threat in front of goal. He managed two shots, both of which were blocked—an underwhelming return against lower-league opposition.
Overall, the match exposed Liverpool’s lack of reliable depth on the right flank. With Salah enduring a dip in form and his understudy failing to impress, the club may need to recruit a more dependable option—possibly even a long-term successor to the Egyptian forward.
Fans React to Chiesa’s Display
Liverpool supporters were quick to voice their frustration online. One fan questioned the calls for Chiesa to start more often, writing that he was “genuinely awful.” Another was even more blunt, calling his performance “so bad it’s funny.”
Others criticised the idea that Chiesa’s absence from the starting XI had been a major issue under Slot, while one supporter took a more measured view, arguing that the winger is being misused out on the right.
Some fans went as far as labelling him a poor signing and suggested a return to Italy, while others insisted Liverpool need a young, left-footed right winger to properly support—and eventually replace—Salah
