Liverpool have been handed a slightly more comfortable schedule with the date of their FA Cup third-round tie vs. Barnsley confirmed for Monday, January 12 at 7.45pm.
The Reds will host League One side Barnsley in the third round of the FA Cup, having been dealt a favourable fixture to kick off the tournament.
With a trip to Arsenal in the Premier League on the Thursday night beforehand, it was widely expected that the tie would be pushed back to the Sunday.
But the FA have now confirmed its selection for broadcast by TNT Sports, with Liverpool vs. Barnsley now a 7.45pm kickoff on Monday, January 12 instead.
Liverpool’s fixture list: December and January
LEEDS, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 6, 2025: Liverpool's players form a pre-match huddle before the FA Premier League match between Leeds United FC and Liverpool FC at Elland Road. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
December
• Brighton (H) – Premier League – Saturday 13, 3pm
• Tottenham (A) – Premier League – Saturday 20, 5.30pm
• Wolves (H) – Premier League – Saturday 27, 3pm
January
• Leeds (H) – Premier League – Thursday 1, 5.30pm
• Fulham (A) – Premier League – Sunday 4, 3pm
• Arsenal (A) – Premier League – Thursday 8, 8pm
• Barnsley (H) – FA Cup – Monday 12, 7.45pm
• Burnley (H) – Premier League – Saturday 17, 3pm
• Marseille (A) – Champions League – Wednesday 21, 8pm
• Bournemouth (A) – Premier League – Saturday 24, 5.30pm
• Qarabag (H) – Champions League – Wednesday 28, 8pm
• Newcastle (H) – Premier League – Saturday 31, 8pm
That means three full days to recover and prepare following the Arsenal game and then four clear days between the home clashes with Barnsley and then Burnley in the Premier League.
Liverpool’s shortest gap between any game in the next month is two days, which only occurs once and is dictated by the festive schedule.
Arne Slot‘s side will host Leeds on New Year’s Day before travelling to Fulham three days later on January 4.
Liverpool play 4 games in 11 days in January
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, December 8, 2025: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between FC Internazionale Milano and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jessica Hornby/Propaganda)
That tight turnaround followed by the meetings with Arsenal, Barnsley and Burnley does mean Liverpool will play five times in 17 days – an average of a game every 3.4 days – but it is clearer a more comfortable schedule than in recent weeks.
It is after the visit of Burnley when the fixture congestion kicks in again, with the Reds required to play four times in just 11 days upon the resumption of the Champions League‘s league phase.
Liverpool will enter a Wednesday-Saturday routine over that fortnight, with two away games in a row against Marseille (Jan 21) and Bournemouth (Jan 24), before two at home against Qarabag (Jan 28) and Newcastle (Jan 31).
The scheduling of the Barnsley tie can be seen as a small victory in this respect – particularly as they will play nine times in January in total – with Slot already underlining the importance of a quieter run coming up.
“Sometimes players need rest as well, so look at Dominik, Virgil, Ibou, Ryan. They’ve played so many minutes because other ones weren’t available,” he told reporters on Friday.
“So it’s good for them we go now to a run of games where there’s one week rest in between.
“And players will come back from injuries; when they are back from injury there is more to choose from as well.”
The fourth round of the FA Cup is set for the weekend of February 14/15.