Liverpool To Field Strong Squad For FA Cup Clash With Barnsley, Says Slot

Liverpool manager Arne Slot says a strong side will face Barnsley in the FA Cup third round, as Liverpool aim to avoid another shock exit. Liverpool host the League One club on 12 January, with Slot stressing

that team selection will differ from last season’s costly gamble against Plymouth Argyle.

Liverpool were eliminated in the fourth round in 2024-25, losing 1-0 at Home Park to Plymouth, who were battling in the Championship. That defeat came in February and ended Liverpool’s run while the club were leading the Premier League, drawing heavy criticism of the rotation used that night.

That Plymouth result carried historic weight. Plymouth became the first lower-division side to knock out the Premier League leaders in the FA Cup since Wigan beat Manchester City in February 2018. It also marked Liverpool’s first elimination by a lower league club while top of the table since Brighton in January 1984.

Several fringe and youth players featured in that loss. Kostas Tsimikas, James McConnell and Trey Nyoni started the tie, while Isaac Mabaya and Trent Kone-Doherty came on as substitutes. Slot accepted that selection, influenced by a congested schedule, carried risk, and that the consequences remain fresh heading into the Barnsley fixture.

"Last season I made the decision that some players needed to rest in the FA Cup because you cannot play every player every single time," Slot told reporters. "But it's obvious that we're not in the League Cup any more. The FA Cup has always been very important for us, but sometimes in a season where you are still competing for the League Cup, for the Champions League and the leaguewith the amount of players we had last season and have this seasonyou have to make choices. But I can guarantee you that on Monday you will see all the players that you saw [on Thursday], maybe with some substitutions, but then they will be on the bench. So that is going to be different from last season against Plymouth. "

Hugo Ekitike may return after missing Liverpool’s last two Premier League matches with a thigh issue. Slot expects Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha to feature at some point. The tie also offers a platform for Federico Chiesa, who has struggled for regular starts since joining Liverpool.

Chiesa has appeared 20 times in all competitions this season, with three starts. Chiesa has scored two goals and added three assists. Slot indicated recent minutes have increased, and suggested Chiesa is firmly in contention against Barnsley, although plans could change if Ekitike proves ready to start.

"I spoke to him [Chiesa] two days ago, and he said to me that he played more in recent weeks than he ever did before under me," Slot added. "But he is one of the players that could feature in that game, definitely. But, like I said, Hugo might be back, so let's see how we will start that game. He is one of the options that I have, so let's see. "

Liverpool’s broader FA Cup record at this stage is strong. The club have advanced from 13 of the last 14 third-round ties, failing only in 2018-19, when Wolves won 2-1. Liverpool have not gone out to a non-Premier League opponent in the third round since Reading knocked them out in the 2009-10 season.

History in this specific meeting, however, favours Barnsley. Barnsley have won on the last two trips to Anfield in all competitions, claiming a Premier League victory in 1997 and an FA Cup success in 2008. No club currently holds a longer active away winning streak at Anfield than Barnsley, with only Nottingham Forest and Atalanta also on two.

Next up, we're back in #EmiratesFACup actionpic.twitter.com/R0vNB0Kcl0Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 9, 2026

With Liverpool balancing the memory of Plymouth, the threat from Barnsley’s record at Anfield, and the potential returns of Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa, Slot’s approach signals clear intent to treat the FA Cup as a major target, while still providing controlled opportunities for younger players such as Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha.