Liverpool vs Barnsley — Match Preview
The magic of the FA Cup returns to Anfield on Monday, 12 January 2026, as Premier League giants Liverpool host League One hopefuls Barnsley. The Reds enter this tie off the back of a grueling 0–0 draw with Arsenal just four days ago. With the Premier League title race intensifying and key players absent, Arne Slot is expected to ring the changes and trust his academy stars.
For Barnsley, this is a free hit. The Tykes are struggling for consistency in League One, winless in their last four matches, including a disappointing 1–1 draw with Wigan on New Year’s Day. However, the Yorkshire club will draw inspiration from their famous 2008 visit to Anfield, where they stunned Rafael Benitez’s side 2–1. Manager Conor Hourihane will be hoping to channel that spirit to produce one of the biggest shocks of the 2026 season.
Liverpool vs Barnsley — Match Info
- Competition: FA Cup (Third Round)
- Venue: Anfield, Liverpool (Capacity: 61,276)
- Date: Monday, 12 January 2026
- Kickoff: 19:45 GMT | 20:45 CET | 14:45 ET
- Referee: F. Hallam (ENG)
Liverpool vs Barnsley — Match Stakes
Liverpool (Premier League):
- Win → Safe passage to the 4th Round; valuable minutes for squad players and youngsters.
- Draw → A fixture congestion nightmare; adds an unwanted replay to an already packed January schedule.
- Loss → A historic upset; ends hopes of a domestic cup run early.
Barnsley (League One):
- Win → A legendary “Giant Killing”; massive financial boost and global exposure.
- Draw → Earns a lucrative replay at Oakwell; a massive morale booster for their league campaign.
- Loss → Expected result; focus returns to correcting their League One playoff push.
Liverpool vs Barnsley — Team News
Liverpool:
- Salah M. — Out (International Duty – AFCON with Egypt)
- Endo W. — Out (International Duty – Japan)
- Isak A. — Out (Broken Leg – Season-Defining Injury)
- Ekitike H. — Questionable (Fitness – Likely Rested)
- Rotation: Arne Slot will rotate heavily. Expect Federico Chiesa to lead the line, with highly-rated youngsters Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni pushing for starts. Joe Gomez returns to marshal the defense.
Barnsley:
- Roberts M. — Out (Groin Injury – Defensive Blow)
- Phillips A. — Available (Key midfielder)
- McGoldrick D. — Available (Veteran striker with Premier League experience)
- Tactical Plan: Hourihane is likely to set up in a low block (5-4-1), looking to frustrate Liverpool and hit on the counter via the pace of Fabio Jalo.
Liverpool vs Barnsley — Team Form (Last 5 Matches)
Liverpool
- 09/01 — 0–0 vs Arsenal (Premier League)
- 04/01 — 2–2 vs Fulham (Premier League)
- 01/01 — 0–0 vs Leeds United (Premier League)
- 27/12 — 2–1 vs Wolves (Premier League)
- 20/12 — 2–1 vs Tottenham (Premier League)
Barnsley
- 01/01 — 1–1 vs Wigan (League One)
- 30/12 — 0–2 vs Lincoln City (League One)
- 26/12 — 2–3 vs Mansfield (League One)
- 20/12 — 0–3 vs Exeter City (League One)
- 13/12 — 3–2 vs Leyton Orient (League One)
Liverpool vs Barnsley — Head-to-Head (Last 5 Meetings)
- 16/02/2008 — Liverpool 1–2 Barnsley (FA Cup)
- 28/03/1998 — Barnsley 2–3 Liverpool (Premier League)
- 22/11/1997 — Liverpool 0–1 Barnsley (Premier League)
- (Note: Historical H2H is sparse due to division gap, but Barnsley famously won the last Anfield meeting in 2008)
Liverpool vs Barnsley — Playing XI (Predicted Lineups)
Liverpool (4-3-3)
Kelleher; Bradley, Gomez, Quansah, Tsimikas; Morton, Nyoni, Jones; Chiesa, Danns, Ngumoha
Barnsley (5-3-2)
Slonina; O’Keeffe, de Gevigney, Pines, Earl, Gent; Phillips, Connell, Russell; Jalo, McGoldrick
Liverpool vs Barnsley — Impact Bench
Liverpool: Szoboszlai (Energy), Elliott (Creativity), Diaz (Emergency option)
Barnsley: Watters (Goal threat), Cosgrove (Aerial presence)
Liverpool vs Barnsley — Tactical Analysis
Liverpool
Even with a “B-Team,” Liverpool’s instructions will remain the same: high intensity and quick ball circulation. The spotlight will be on Federico Chiesa to provide the cutting edge that has been missing in recent draws. Youngsters Nyoni and Ngumoha will bring fearlessness, looking to take on Barnsley’s wing-backs 1v1.
Barnsley
Barnsley’s recent form (conceding 9 goals in 4 games) suggests they are vulnerable. They cannot afford to open up. Their best chance lies in set-pieces, targeting Liverpool’s rotated backline. Veteran David McGoldrick will look to drop deep and buy fouls to break up Liverpool’s rhythm. If they can survive the first 20 minutes, the Anfield crowd may get anxious.
Liverpool vs Barnsley — Key Battles
- Chiesa vs Earl — Italian flair vs League One grit.
- Nyoni vs Connell — Liverpool’s wonderkid vs Barnsley’s midfield anchor.
- McGoldrick vs Quansah — Experience vs Youth in the Liverpool box.
- Slonina vs The Kop — Barnsley’s keeper faces the daunting task of silencing Anfield.
Liverpool vs Barnsley — Spotlight Players
Liverpool — Rio Ngumoha
The exciting winger is tipped for stardom. This is his stage to show why Liverpool fought so hard to sign him. Expect dazzing dribbles and direct running.
Barnsley — Adam Phillips
Barnsley’s most dangerous player. He has a knack for scoring from midfield. If the ball falls to him on the edge of the box, Liverpool must close him down instantly.
Liverpool vs Barnsley — Prediction
Liverpool 3–0 Barnsley
While the romance of the cup suggests an upset, Barnsley’s current form is too poor to suggest they can trouble even a rotated Liverpool side. The gap in quality, particularly with hungry players like Chiesa and Bradley eager to impress, should see the Reds cruise into the Fourth Round comfortably.
Liverpool vs Barnsley — Betting Insights
- Liverpool to Win & Over 2.5 Goals — High Probability.
- Federico Chiesa to Score — Likely (Main attacking outlet).
- Both Teams to Score — NO (Barnsley struggling for goals away).
Liverpool vs Barnsley — Where to Watch
- UK: TNT Sports / ITV
- International: ESPN+
Liverpool vs Barnsley — FAQs
Q: When is the Liverpool vs Barnsley match?
A: The match kicks off on Monday, 12 January 2026, at 19:45 GMT.
Q: Is Mohamed Salah playing?
A: No. He is on international duty with Egypt for AFCON 2026.
Q: When did Barnsley last beat Liverpool?
A: They famously won 2–1 at Anfield in the FA Cup 5th Round on February 16, 2008.
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