A French-German alliance sees off Barnsley in the FA Cup

From the moment when little Macclesfield defeated FA Cup holders Crystal Palace on Saturday, every other big favorite–big outsider game on the schedule was viewed as another possible upset.

But clubs like Charlton, Exeter and Portsmouth were too weak for Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal, and so was Barnsley for Liverpool at Anfield.

The 17th placed club in England‘s third league (League One) gave it all, played bravely and pushed as much as they could, but still left the stadium defeated: Liverpool – Barnsley 4-1.

The result is not telling the right story as Arne Slot fielded a combined squad, with only Virgil Van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister, Jeremie Frimpong, Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo keeping their places.

The Reds were leading 2-1 until the 84th minute, when Slot introduced Ekitike and Wirtz who helped get the job done.

The Frenchman and German finished the game with a goal and assist apiece, but it could be a different story if Barnsley used their big chance, which came after only 29 seconds of the game.

The League One side attacked and had one more excellent opportunity in the first half, but the Premier League champions had too many players with individual qualities and prevailed in the end.

It was the 29th second of the game when Barnsley had the biggest opportunity of the match.

Phillips crossed from the right, with Keillor-Dunn sending a header against the right post.

What a stroke of luck for the Reds!. But in the ninth minute, Szoboszlai scored a screamer from at least 25 meters.

He was unmarked and decided to try his terrific shot and it worked, as Cooper showed why he is a goalkeeper in a third-tier team and nothing more.

But Barnsley did not give up as they created another great chance, this time in the 24th minute, when Bland‘s volley was saved by Mamardashvili brilliantly.

But Liverpool had the individual quality with Frimpong, one of three new Liverpool players who have failed to impress, used his quickness to pass Barnsley defender and beat Cooper to make it 2-0.

It would probably be all over at this point for the guests if it were not a reckless move by Szoboszlai, who made a huge blunder and tried a backheel pass to Mamardashvili.

It went wrong and former Liverpool academy player Phillips just taped in from close range to keep the game alive.

The second half was not so interesting as the first one, but had its moments.

The Reds had two excellent opportunities to secure the game, but it was Wirtz who finally put the game beyond any doubt in the 84th minute.

The first one was an excellent volley from Van Dijk (of all people), which Cooper brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar and over in the 56th minute.

Slot had to introduce players like Ekitike and Wirtz to get the third goal, but the German had to miss a sitter from three meters first, before he finally scored six minutes from time, after a good interaction with Ekitike.

Barnsley‘s biggest chance was a penalty claim in the 61st minute (while the score was still 2-1), when Cleary went down after a contact from Szoboszlai.

There is no VAR in the FA Cup‘s third round and the referee decided against giving it.

It would have been a soft penalty, but we have seen many of those in the past being given to Liverpool.

Barnsley, however, were not that lucky tonight. In injury time, Ekitike and Wirtz changed roles and this time the Frenchman was the one who scored for the final 4-1.

FA CUP - ROUND 3

Friday

Milton Keynes Dons - Oxford 3-4 on pen (1-1)

/Collins 34 - Lankshear 52/

Port Vale - Fleetwood 1-0 (1-0)

/Shipley 45+2/

Preston - Wigan 0-1 (0-0)

/Bettoni 75/

Wrexham - Nottingham Forest 4-3 on pen (3-3)

/Cacace 37, Rathbone 40, Hyam 74 - Jesus 64, Hudson-Odoi 76, 89/

Saturday

Cheltenham - Leicester 0-2 (0-2)

/Daka 23, Mavididi 45/

Everton - Sunderland 0-3 on pen (1-1)

/Garner 89 pen - La Fee 90/

Macclesfield - Crystal Palace 2-1 (1-0)

/Dawson 43, Buckley 61 - Pino 90/

Wolverhampton - Shrewsbury 6-1 (3-1)

/Larsen 9, 41, 58, Arias 11, Gomes 86, Arokodare 90+2 - Marquis 26 pen/

Manchester City - Exeter City 10-1 (4-0)

/Alleyne 12, Rodri 24, Hayes 42 og, Fitzwater 45+2 og, Lewis 49, 90+1, Semenyo 54, Reijnders 71, O'Reilly 79, McAidoo 86 - Birch 90/

Boreham Wood - Burton 0-5 (0-2)

/Lofthouse 35, O'Connell 41 og, Tavares 67, Williams 83, McKiernan 90+2/

Burnley - Millwall 5-1 (3-0)

/Barnes 11, 65, Tchaouna 35, Anthony 44, Banel 89 - Coburn 90+4/

Doncaster - Southampton 2-3 (0-3)

/Pearson 48, Gibson 59 - Bragg 8, Archer 24, Matsuki 41/

Fulham - Middlesbrough 3-1 (0-1)

/Wilson 60, Smith Rowe 77, Kevin 90+3 - Hackney 30/

Ipswich - Blackpool 2-1 (1-0)

/Philogene-Bidace 35, Greaves 87 - Fletcher 90+6/

Newcastle - Bournemouth 7-6 on pen (3-3)

/Barnes 50, 118, Gordon 90+5 pen - Scott 62, Brooks 68, Tavernier 120+2/

Salford City - Swindon POSTPONED

Sheffield Wednesday - Brentford 0-2 (0-1)

/Lewis-Potter 27, Jensen 64 pen/

Stoke - Coventry 1-0 (0-0)

/Cisse 88/

Bristol City - Watford 5-1 (2-0)

/Jacobsen 2,68,76, Mehmeti 37, Atkinson 66 - Grieves 74/

Cambridge - Birmingham 2-3 (0-2)

/Kaikai 80,89 - Wagner 31, Furuhashi 42, Ducksch 78/

Grimsby - Weston 3-2 (1-0)

/Vernam 41, Kabia 70, Green 86 - Coulson 49, Britton 77/

Tottenham - Aston Villa 1-2 (0-2)

/Odobert 54 - Buendia 22, Rogers 45+3/

Charlton - Chelsea 1-5 (0-1)

/Leaburn 57 - Hato 45+1, Adarabioyo 50, Guiu 62, Neto 90+1, Enzo 90+4 pen/

Sunday

Derby - Leeds 1-3 (1-0)

/Brereton Diaz 35 - Gnonto 55, Tanaka 59, Justin 90+3/

Portsmouth - Arsenal 1-4 (1-2)

/Bishop 3 - Dozzell 8 og, Martinelli 25,51, 72/

Hull - Blackburn 4-3 on pen (0-0)

Norwich - Walsall 5-1 (2-0)

/Jurasek 15, Makama 24, 48,55, Springett 90+2 - Clarke 67/

Sheffield Utd - Mansfield 3-4 (1-2)

/Hamer 20, Bamford 61, Moriah-Welsh 65 og - Reed 13,44, Akins 50, Oates 57/

Swansea - WBA 5-6 on pen (0-0)

/Eom 48, Inoussa 112 - Maja 53, Wallace 108/

West Ham - QPR 2-1 a.e.t (1-0)

/Summerville 45+10, Castellanos 98 - Kone 65/

Manchester United - Brighton 1-2 (0-1)

/Sesko 85 - Gruda 12, Welbeck 64/

Monday

Liverpool - Barnsley 4-1 (2-1)

/Szoboszlai 9, Frimpong 36, Wirtz 84, Ekitike 90+4 - Phillips 40/