'He wouldn't do that against Chelsea or Arsenal,' Hourihane critical of Szoboszlai showboating

"It was a little bit disrespectful from their player, to be honest," the Corkman said.

Tue, 13 Jan, 2026 - 07:55

John Fallon

Conor Hourihane accused Dominik Szoboszlai of disrespect after his casual howler gifted the Corkman’s Barnsley an FAI Cup lifeline on Monday night.

Hungary’s captain Szoboszlai helped Liverpool into cruise control of the third-round tie by opening the scoring at Anfield with one of his trademark long-range efforts.

Another by Jeremie Frimpong on 36 minutes threatened to expose the League One underdogs to a hammering but four minutes later Szoboszlai’s scuffed back-heel towards Giorgi Mamardashvili allowed former Liverpool academy player Adam Phillips to make it 2-1.

Szoboszlai – who last week admitted the World Cup qualifier defeat to Ireland left him devastated – was again in the firing line of Hourihane on the hour when they were denied a penalty opportunity to equalise.

VAR’s absence until the sixth round contributed to the midfielder escaping punishment for hauling down Reyes Cleary as he burst into the box. Two late goals for the Premier League champions bloated their winning margin to 4-1.

“I don't think he does that against Chelsea or Arsenal or in a Champions League game,” Corkman Hourihane said afterwards about Szoboszlai’s casualness for their goal.

"It is such an amazing feeling for Adam scoring in front of the Kop – being a Liverpool fan, coming through the academy.

"It's something he can look back on for the rest of his life and say he did that. Not many people can say that.

"But it was a little bit disrespectful from their player, to be honest. Delighted for Adam, but disrespectful from their player's point of view."

Hourihane (34) will resume his primary focus of leading Barnsley’s promotion tilt but he couldn’t help wondering what might have been as he left Anfield.

"At the time I thought it was a stonewall penalty," he told TNT Sports about the tie’s turning point.

"He (Cleary) got across the player and you think penalty straight away. I think someone said (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.

"Getting a penalty in front of our fans would have been a key thing. You never know what can happen after that, so a big decision that probably went against us."

Barnsley, 17th in League One, are next in action on Saturday by hosting Blackpool.