Dominik Szoboszlai's evening at Anfield swung dramatically from the spectacular to the absurd on Monday night.
The Hungarian midfielder had tracked back diligently to intercept a through ball heading towards Adam Phillips in Liverpool's penalty area. His defensive work appeared complete.
Yet what followed left TNT Sports commentator Ally McCoist utterly bewildered.
Standing just six yards from his own goal, Szoboszlai inexplicably attempted a backheel pass to goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. The ball never reached its intended target.
Barnsley star Adam Phillips greedily lapped up his goal in front of the Kop courtesy of Dominik Szoboszlai's mistake
|REUTERS
"I'm actually stunned at what I've just seen," McCoist declared. "He's officially gone from the sublime to the ridiculous."
Phillips gratefully converted from close range.
The former RB Leipzig man had earlier announced himself in emphatic fashion during the opening exchanges.
Nine minutes into the FA Cup third-round encounter, Szoboszlai unleashed a thunderous effort from approximately 25 yards that flew past Barnsley goalkeeper Murphy Cooper.
The strike settled any early nerves around the ground after the League One visitors had actually begun the brighter of the two sides.
A lifeline for Barnsley 👀
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 12, 2026
Adam Phillips takes advantage to reduce the deficit to one.
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It was a moment of genuine quality from the 24-year-old, who would go on to dominate proceedings for much of the first half before his remarkable lapse in concentration.
Jeremie Frimpong then appeared to have settled matters with a superb individual goal in the 36th minute.
The Dutch right-back collected possession on the right flank, drove towards the penalty area and glided past defender Nathanael Ogbeta before firing a fierce left-footed shot beyond Cooper.
Dion Dublin was effusive in his praise on BBC Radio 5 Live. "It's not easy but Frimpong made it look easy," he observed. "He receives it out on the right wing, he's allowed to turn and face Ogbeta, comes inside on his left foot and hits it with such power, laces, and it flies past the 'keeper."
Sky Sports reporter Sam Blitz labelled the finish "Mo Salah-esque."
McCoist's disbelief at the incident continued to pour forth during the broadcast.
Dominik Szoboszlai had earlier unleashed a terrific effort to put Liverpool ahead
|REUTERS
"He does fantastically well matching the run," the former Scotland striker noted. "Defensively, his duties were all but done as he got in front of the attacker."
The pundit questioned what could possibly have been going through Szoboszlai's mind in that moment.
Liverpool take the lead courtesy of a thunderous strike from Dominik Szoboszlai 💥
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 12, 2026
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"I don't think I've ever seen a player of that quality do something like that in an area where you should never even be thinking about it," McCoist added.
He reflected that the midfielder had arguably been Liverpool's outstanding performer for the opening 40 minutes before his extraordinary misjudgement.