Amid a challenging domestic season in which defending the Premier League title is all but impossible at this point, Liverpool seem to have turned their attention to the FA Cup and Champions League, with Arne Slot fielding a strong side against League One club Barnsley on Monday.
It wasn’t pretty at times, and failing to keep a clean sheet was disappointing, but a 4–1 victory is likely right in line with what the Reds were expected to achieve.
They’ve now set up a date with Brighton in the next round of England’s famed cup competition, adding another chapter to this great fixture.
So, how did the Reds rate on an individual level following the win at Anfield?
Starting XI:
Giorgi Mamardashvili: 7.5/10- He was surprisingly called into action for a pair of solid saves in the first half, as Barnsley actually outpaced Liverpool in shots on target by a 3–2 margin over the opening 45 minutes. He was not required to make another stop after halftime and deserved a clean sheet, having been clearly blameless for the goal Liverpool conceded.
Virgil van Dijk: 7.5/10- Never looked troubled in defensive situations and completed the second-most passes on the team with 100. He also came close to scoring twice in the second half—a rock-solid performance from the captain.
Joe Gomez: 6/10- Barnsley’s attack was lively on the evening, and Gomez by far looked the weaker of Liverpool’s two center-backs, particularly when he was badly beaten by Reyes Cleary, resulting in a yellow card challenge. He also misfired on several long balls—a performance that strangely proves Joe’s best games this season have come as a fullback rather than in his natural CB role.
Andy Robertson: 7/10- A somewhat pedestrian performance from the Scotsman, but was sound defensively. A good reminder that he can still contribute on defense, especially as Milos Kerkez has begun to establish himself as Arne Slot’s first-choice left-back as the season has progressed.
Jeremie Frimpong: 8/10- Hugo Ekitike remains Liverpool’s most impactful summer signing to date, but Jeremie is shaping up to be not far behind at all. After a recent run of matches operating as a playmaker through intelligent crosses and passes, he finally scored his first Liverpool goal since the Community Shield, finishing a lovely cut into the box for the team’s second high-quality strike of the match. It's been lovely to see him hit the ground running as of late after missing a long spell to injury.
Alexis Mac Allister: 6.5/10- Another underwhelming outing from the Argentine. It feels like every “next match” is supposed to be the one that sparks him into life, and that seemed especially true against a League One side today; until it wasn't. He’s still struggling to leave his mark on games, but just maybe the home fixture against Burnley on Saturday will finally get Macca going—he could still be vital across the FA Cup and UCL if he can raise his level.
Curtis Jones: 7/10- Quiet on the eye to me, but still managed to create the most chances on the team with four. It’s good to see him generating opportunities, yet compared to the constant scrutiny around Florian Wirtz not registering a goal or assist until recently, Curtis going without one up to this point has flown under the radar. He’ll need to make a decisive impact on a game soon.
Dominik Szoboslai: 7/10- Dom experienced both the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in this one. His thunderous 9th minute strike gave Liverpool an early lead and looked like it could open the floodgates as Frimpong scored soon after; however, an unnecessary bout of failed showmanship—a backheel flick inside his own six-yard box—was punished by Adam Phillips, allowing Barnsley back into the game. He then nearly compounded matters by almost conceding a penalty in the 61st minute, making it a puzzling outing for the Hungarian.
Rio Ngumoha: 7.5/10- It was refreshing to see Rio drive into the box with conviction and purpose throughout the match—something that has been missing from Liverpool’s attack for much of the season. He may not have recorded a goal or assist, but he completed the most dribbles on the team with four. Fortunately, the knock that forced him off in the 73rd minute appears to have been just a cramp rather than anything serious.
Cody Gakpo: 7/10- Felt less effective in the center-forward role than in recent outings like the one against Fulham, but still managed to create three chances on the evening. He also provided a memorable, humorous moment, running around with one of his boots in hand during play.
Federico Chiesa: 6/10- Anonymous during his outing. It was encouraging and sensical to see him get the nod, and there was real hope he could make a stronger impact as a starter after failing to do so against Wolves, but Chiesa once again seemed to validate Arne Slot’s view that he is best deployed as a super-sub. A very flat performance from the fan favorite.
Substitutes:
Ibrahima Konate: 7.5/10- Never really drew attention to himself in this one, which is an encouraging sign given the sporadic nature of his season. He even made an important late block in extra time to stave off a final moment of drama—a thoroughly professional cameo from Ibou.
Florian Wirtz: 8/10- After blazing a glorious chance over the bar in the 76th minute following a sublime Szoboszlai cross, Wirtz atoned moments later, recording Liverpool’s third high-quality strike of the night to make it 3–1 and put the game to bed. He also repaid Ekitike for assisting his goal by setting up the Frenchman in return in extra time; the goal contributions are finally beginning to stack up for Wirtz, just as his supporters knew they would.
Hugo Ekitike: 8/10- Produced a lovely touch to set up Wirtz’s goal, another example of his impressive on-ball ability for a striker, before finishing off a slick break with a simple tap-in of his own. Liverpool win again with Ekitike on the pitch, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to call that a coincidence; he's building a real case to be Liverpool's best player when available.
Ryan Gravenberch: 7/10- Quiet in his cameo, but likely given the task of seeing the game out from a defensive standpoint, he did exactly that.
Trey Nyoni: N/A- Too little time on the pitch to rate the teenager.