Liverpool 4-1 Barnsley: Reds set up fourth-round tie against Brighton

'A big decision that went against us'

FT: Liverpool 4-1 Barnsley

Barnsley

Barnsley manager Conor Hourihane speaking to TNT Sports about his side's penalty appeal: "At the time I thought it was a stonewall penalty. He [Cleary] got across the player and you think penalty straight away. I think someone said he [Szoboszlai] might have got a touch on the ball but others said he may have thought he was in trouble and started dragging Reyes' shirt a bit. It would have been at a key time, 2-1, a penalty in front of our fans and you never know what can happen after that. So a big decision that probably went against us."

On the goals conceded: "Top, that is the level that we are facing. They had to work hard for their goals. The first goal was an unbelievable strike, the second and third were really impressive finishes as well. I think on the second we could do better defensively, letting him step inside the box a little bit too easily."

On Phillips' goal: "Amazing for him. He grew up as a fan, came through the academy and went on a pre-season tour with Liverpool in the early day of his career. I'm delighted for him. He'll hold onto that moment in front of the kop dearly for a long, long time."

On using today to turn around league form: "I think we have to. I said to the lads that the way we blocked shots, were disciplined out of possession and defended our goal, I thought we were first class. In the league we haven't done that to that level for a while and I said we have to use that moving forward as a stepping stone in the right direction.

"We do score goals, we do play some good stuff but ultimately we need to defend our goal a bit better and I saw that at a high level tonight."

'The lads were outstanding'

FT: Liverpool 4-1 Barnsley

Barnsley

Barnsley manager Conor Hourihane speaking to TNT Sports: "I'm unbelievably proud of the lads, I thought they were outstanding. They stuck with the plan from minute one until the very end. We got a bit tired towards the end, as you can imagine, because we've gone so long without the ball at times.

"I thought we started the game so, so well. We stuck in there at 2-1. They are bringing on top player after top player and that was probably their best team out towards the end because they were making sure that they got over the line themselves., and I thought my lads were unbelievable.

"We had chances ourselves. We got the goal to get back in it art 2-1. I'm a little bit disappointed at our goal really because I don't think the player does that against Chelsea or Arsenal or in a Champions League game, so I was a little bit disappointed with that if I'm honest.

"I wanted the lads to put in a performance that they could come away from and be immensely proud of and they can certainly do that.

On if Szoboszlai's error was disrespectful: "Yeah potentially. I don't think he does that in a Premier League game against Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City or in a Champions League game. I was a little bit disappointed with that."

'Happy with the goals we scored'

FT: Liverpool 4-1 Barnsley

Liverpool

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot on his side's performance: "I was happy with the goals we scored - they were nice goals. But I think it was a game that was tight for far too long because at 2-0 and then giving a goal away like that made it difficult it until 5-10 minutes before the end. So yeah, good goals but not enough chances from all the ball possession we had."

On Szoboszlai's backheel mistake in the first-half: "I don't think you should do that in an FA Cup game or League Cup, a friendly game or even a training session. It's a weird choice and I also have my opinion about it but I prefer to keep that to myself and speak about that with Dom."

On Wirtz's performance from the bench: "If you come in for half an hour and you have a goal and an assist and a few other good moments, you can definitely say he brought something creative to the team and that we what needed today."

'Barnsley just didn't have enough opportunities'

FT: Liverpool 4-1 Barnsley

Jobi McAnuff

Former Crystal Palace and Reading winger on BBC 5 Live

Barnsley were disciplined, they were really well organised, and made it difficult for Liverpool to break them down for the most part. They just didn't have enough opportunities to keep that hope going for longer.

The penalty is a really tough one, Cleary does everything he should do, cuts across the defender and is there a potentially a little nick? I'm not sure but it's definitely worth a claim.

You know you want to get a result from these games but you want to come out of it with some positivity and be able to take things forward and Barnsley have done that.

'We showed again today we need the whole squad'

FT: Liverpool v Barnsley

Liverpool

Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai on his mistake: "Sorry to the team again - I made it hard for us. It was an easy mistake, I would say. Football happens and we move on."

On a strong start to Liverpool's FA Cup campaign: "We wanted to show that we take the FA Cup seriously. We always take it seriously. We showed again today we need the whole squad. The new guys came in, who didn't play as much as the others, and they showed lots of quality. We need everyone."

On Liverpool's development this season: "I think we need a little bit more time to get to know each other better. From the summer on I think we have developed a lot. All the new guys have settled well, I think. I'm happy for Florian and Hugo and for all the guys."

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