Last season, an early round FA Cup stumble against Plymouth Argyle was a signal that Liverpool’s imperious autumnal form wouldn’t be continuing into the new year. In the league they had enough of a cushion to still win the title comfortably, but as their form dropped they also soon found themselves out of Europe.
This season, the Reds head into the new year looking to reverse the narrative and get back on track after a highly disappointing first half of the 2025-26 season, and how a likely much changed
side can manage against another League One opponent today in the FA Cup will be important for measuring just where this side is.
“Given our position in the Premier League is currently not what we would want it to be, the FA Cup is a competition that gives us a fresh opportunity to build something meaningful,” Liverpool manager Arne Slot noted ahead of kickoff against Barnsley. “What it means and what it represents is already very clear.
“Barnsley have a reputation for playing good football in League One and they have reached this stage with two very good results against York City and Peterborough. Like us, they will view this fixture as an opportunity in front of a TV audience, which I assume will include a lot of people hoping there might be an upset.”
Last season, Liverpool looked flat in their FA Cup ouster. It was easy at the time to suggest the fringe and youth players drafted in by Slot had failed to take their chance and call that the end of it, but as the rest of 2025 played out it became clear that looking flat was a growing issue for a Liverpool side regardless who played.
A refocus on defensive solidity has seen results improve of late, and signs were particularly promising in the second half against Arsenal last week as the Reds looked both the better and more determined side against the league leaders. Now, the hope will be that whoever plays today can prove that isn’t simply a one-off.
“It is too early to say what our starting line-up will be,” Slot added, “but for whoever is in the team the message will be the same—bring all of your desire and all of your quality because you and we are going to need it.”
