Liverpool has managed to assemble an impressive 11-game unbeaten streak, clawing their way back from a bleak start to winter. However, despite the numbers, the team still presents an air of inconsistency, leaving fans and analysts alike wondering if tougher challenges lie just ahead.

Currently, Liverpool remains in a competition that could potentially revitalize their season, but only if they can improve upon the level of play demonstrated in their latest outing.

Manager Arne Slot fielded a version of Liverpool that differed from their usual lineup, making several substitutions. Despite these changes, the team was not lacking in experience or talent. The match only turned in Liverpool’s favor with two late goals, a scenario that has become all too familiar for the squad.

The game began with a near miss from Barnsley’s captain, Davis Keillor-Dunn, who hit the post with a header just 29 seconds in—a chance he arguably should have converted.

Later, a blunder by Szoboszlai allowed Adam Phillips to score from close range right before halftime. Liverpool then narrowly escaped conceding a penalty on the hour mark when Reyes Clearly went down after Szoboszlai tugged at his shoulder, a moment that could have easily swung the match against them.

Florian Wirtz (left) and Hugo Ekitike (right) combined late on to help Liverpool beat Barnsley

Dominik Szoboszlai’s first-half howler had given League One Barnsley a lifeline

The Hungarian midfielder put Liverpool ahead early on with a thunderbolt from range

With the score at 2-1, that transpired to be the key moment of the game. As Liverpool sent on the artillery later in the evening, their weight of pressure told in the shape of a beautiful Florian Wirtz goal with six minutes remaining. The assist came from another substitute, Hugo Ekitike, and with seconds remaining the favour was returned.

The fact both players had been summoned from the bench earlier in the piece told its own story. Frankly, Liverpool had needed them against a team from the depths of League One. 

The FA Cup has a fresh feel to it this winter and that’s largely because of the shot in the arm given it by Macclesfield and Wrexham over the weekend. Before kick-off here, Barnsley’s players had wandered around this great stadium with a sense of wonder, telling TV interviewers that they just wanted to ‘soak it all in’.

Professional footballers don’t really think like that, though. These are not non-league postmen and window cleaners. They were here to compete and that manifested itself within 30 seconds.

Barnsley moved the ball smoothly down the right and when Phillips clipped in a cross when unmarked and in space, he landed it straight on his skipper’s head six yards out. The contact from Keillor-Dunn was true and powerful but the satellite malfunctioned by six inches and the ball came back from the upright.

For a while Barnsley didn’t take a step back. Soon after Cleary gave Virgil van Dijk – partnered here by Joe Gomez – a run for his money down the left and won. There were other moments of Yorkshire promise as Liverpool struggled to get going but then, out of nowhere, the home team scored.

Perhaps a little bored, Szoboszlai took possession thirty yards out, shifted the ball on to his right foot and smashed it past Barnsley goalkeeper Murphy Cooper with quite alarming power. 

They would have heard the ‘thwack’ right across Stanley Park and when Frimpong did his best to match it – cutting inside Nathanael Ogbeta on the right and shooting high above Cooper from an angle in the 36th minute – it seemed as though Liverpool would stroll through the rest of the night.

Jeremie Frimpong does a jig after doubling Liverpool’s lead over Barnsley on Monday night

Arne Slot celebrates in front of the Liverpool fans after making it eleven games unbeaten

They had not played well by any means. As is often the case at home, Slot’s team had all the ball but looked at a loss as to what they should do with it. Too often Liverpool look like a group of players unsure how to put a jigsaw together and it can be painful to watch.

There should have been no alarm, though. Barnsley had been game on the break but limited. They tried to stretch Liverpool wide on occasion and carried a threat with it. 

But it was Liverpool who inexplicably opened the door back into the game just before half-time when Szoboszlai made a mess of a back heel to his own goalkeeper and Phillips stole in to score.

Emboldened by fresh hope, purpose returned to Barnsley’s football and after goalkeeper Cooper saved brilliantly by touching a Van Dijk header on to the bar in the 53rd minute, the game’s moment of controversy arrived.

With Liverpool still vulnerable when stretched out of their shape, Szoboszlai seemed to have a hand on Cleary’s shoulder when the Barnsley player fell in the penalty area. It looked like a foul but referee Farai Hallam disagreed and Barnsley manager Conor Hourihane was booked for his protests.

With fresh and experienced legs on the field for the final half hour there was some small improvement in Liverpool’s attacking play. A Curtis Jones shot was deflected wide and Van Dijk was close with a header. 

Then, with the goal at his mercy in the 77th minute, Wirtz poked a Szoboszlai cross over from six yards.

Into the final 15 minutes and Anfield was a stadium where anything seemed possible. Slot looked anxious on the touchline and with little wonder. But Wirtz settled his manager’s nerves with a lovely curling shot following an Ekitike backheel. Then, with almost the last kick, Wirtz slid a ball across goal for Ekitike to tap in.

A 4-1 win that felt like something different altogether. Liverpool’s strange season lurches on.