Liverpool will look to shift their focus away from domestic frustrations when they welcome League One side Barnsley to Anfield on Monday night in the third round of the FA Cup.
Liverpool v Barnsley will be played at Anfield on Monday 12 January, with kick off scheduled for 7.45pm GMT. The match will be shown live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate, with live streaming also available via discovery+.
Liverpool v Barnsley TV Channel
- TNT Sports 1 TV Channel
- discovery+ mobile app
- Bet365 Live Coverage
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The Reds come into the tie after a run of three consecutive Premier League draws.
Most recently, they were held to a goalless stalemate away at leaders Arsenal, a result that gave them a boost in confidence but also left them 14 points behind the Gunners in the title race. Draws against Leeds and Fulham preceded that outing, wins are definitely hard to come by at the moment.
Those results have at least extended Liverpool’s unbeaten run in all competitions to 10 matches, suggesting there are positives for Arne Slot to build upon.
Strong league victories over West Ham, Brighton, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolves, combined with an impressive UEFA Champions League win away to Inter Milan, have shown the level this side can reach when rhythm and intensity align.
A return to FA Cup action may provide the reset Liverpool are looking for.
Slot is expected to rotate his squad, giving opportunities to players on the fringes while maintaining enough quality to control the tie. Anfield’s atmosphere on a Monday evening should also help sharpen focus after a demanding run of fixtures.
Barnsley arrive on Merseyside with very different priorities.
The League One side are embroiled in a relegation battle and have picked up just one point from their last four league matches. Preserving their third tier status remains the overriding objective for the Tykes, making this trip to Anfield a daunting distraction from domestic concerns.
Away form has been a particular issue for Barnsley, who have won only one of their last six matches on the road. That record reflects the scale of the challenge they face against elite opposition, especially in one of English football’s most iconic stadiums.
Even so, Barnsley have shown a willingness to compete in attacking areas. They have found the net in five of their last seven games and in eight of their previous 10 away fixtures, suggesting they are capable of posing questions if given space and encouragement.
Liverpool’s defence has shown signs of vulnerability, and rotation could add to that uncertainty. Slot may opt for a reshuffled back line, with Andy Robertson potentially moved into a central role alongside Joe Gomez, while Calvin Ramsay could be handed a rare start. That lack of familiarity could offer Barnsley moments to exploit.
While Liverpool enter the tie as overwhelming favourites, the FA Cup of course throws up a banana skin from time to time.
A professional performance should see the hosts safely through, while Barnsley will aim to make the most of a rare spotlight and test themselves against one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
