Liverpool begin their FA Cup campaign with the visit of League One side Barnsley in the third round, as the Reds chase a ninth triumph in the competition.
Liverpool vs. Barnsley
FA Cup third round | Anfield
January 12, 7.45pm (GMT)
Arne Slot‘s side trade the Premier League for domestic cup commitments, as they look to build on an encouraging 0-0 draw at Arsenal.
Liverpool will be resounding favourites to progress to the FA Cup fourth round, but Barnsley have stunned them in the past.
Here’s all you need to know ahead of the match.
1. Liverpool’s best chance of silverware?
LONDON, ENGLAND - Thursday, January 8, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot (R) and Alexis Mac Allister after the FA Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at the Emirates Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
With the Premier League title all but gone and Champions League glory unlikely, Liverpool may see the FA Cup as their best chance of a trophy this season.
Granted, the competition doesn’t have the same level of prestige as it once did, but it is still a cherished piece of silverware every May.
Liverpool last won the FA Cup in 2022, following a penalty shootout win over Chelsea at Wembley, and a ninth win would be a strong way to end the season.
2. How are Barnsley faring this season?
Barnsley were once a Premier League team, playing in it back in 1997/98, but those days are long gone.
Conor Hourihane’s side are now plying their trade in League One, sitting 17th in the table and only two points above the relegation zone.
Barnsley have lost three of their last four games, so Liverpool are playing them at a good time.
They haven’t had a game since New Year’s Day, with their clash with Port Vale on January 4 postponed due to a frozen pitch.
3. Barnsley have stunned Liverpool in the past
In terms of FA Cup shocks this century, Barnsley’s 2-1 win at Anfield back in 2008 is arguably up there with the biggest.
Rafa Benitez’s side were stunned in the fourth round 18 years ago, in a season that saw them reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Dirk Kuyt may have given Liverpool the lead, but Stephen Foster equalised before Brian Howard scored in stoppage time to seal an incredible win for Barnsley.
That one hurt!
4. Hourihane can’t wait for Liverpool test
Speaking to the media ahead of the game, Barnsley boss Hourihane couldn’t hide his excitement:
“We’re really excited to be able to test ourselves against one of the best teams in the world.
“We expect a really tough occasion, of course, but one that the lads need to be ready for and fully prepared for.
“We’ve used this window to get ourselves in a really good place – not just for Liverpool, but for the busy run of league games coming up.
“We want to hit those head-on.”
5. Liverpool team news
LONDON, ENGLAND - Thursday, January 8, 2026: Liverpool's Conor Bradley receives treatment during the FA Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at the Emirates Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Conor Bradley‘s knee injury at Arsenal was another damaging blow, with the right-back expected to be out for months rather than weeks.
He joins Alexander Isak as a long-term absentee, with the Swede’s return from a broken leg not expected until the spring.
Giovanni Leoni, Wataru Endo and Jayden Danns are also still missing for Liverpool, while Mo Salah remains absent due to AFCON.
6. Liverpool Predicted XI
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, November 26, 2025: Liverpool's Federico Chiesa during the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Slot will make changes at Anfield, allowing key players a breather ahead of Saturday’s visit of Burnley, but they won’t be as drastic as in the Carabao Cup earlier this season.
This isn’t a Liverpool squad brimming with depth, so there are only so many alterations that can be made.
Giorgi Mamardashvili could come in for Alisson in goal, while Joe Gomez and Andy Robertson feel likely to start in defence.
Curtis Jones will surely be part of the midfield, having not started at Arsenal, with Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha also hoping to feature.
A fourth Reds start for teenage midfielder Trey Nyoni looks on the cards, too.
Potential Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konate, Gomez, Robertson; Nyoni, Jones, Szoboszlai; Chiesa, Ngumoha, Gakpo.
7. Did you know?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 7, 2023: Wolverhampton Wanderers' Hee-chan Hwang (R) celebrates after scoring the second goal during the FA Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool have only been knocked out of the FA Cup at the third round stage once in the past 15 years.
That came away to Wolves back in January 2019, following a 2-1 defeat, but Jurgen Klopp fielded a much-changed starting lineup.
Among those who started was Ki-Jana Hoever, who at 16 years and 354 days was Liverpool’s third-youngest debutant at the time.
Last season, the Reds overcame Accrington Stanley in round three, with Diogo Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Danns and Chiesa getting the goals.
8. Farai Hallam in charge at Anfield
Farai Hallam has been confirmed as the referee on Monday evening, in his first-ever Liverpool game.
The 32-year-old is a former player and is now a highly-rated EFL official, and this will be a proud night for him.
Alistair Nelson and Hristo Karaivanov are Hallam’s assistants, while Ruebyn Ricardo is the fourth official.
9. When is the FA Cup fourth round draw?
Anfield will host the fourth round draw ahead of kick-off between Liverpool and Barnsley.
It will be broadcast live on TNT Sports about 10 minutes before the game start, with Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole picking out the balls.
Liverpool and Barnsley will be ball 14 and the ties will be played over the weekend of February 14.
10. Follow the match on TV and with TIA
Liverpool vs. Barnsley is live on TNT Sports 1 from 6.30pm (GMT), with kick-off at 7.45pm.
Meanwhile, This Is Anfield‘s live blog will be up and running from 7pm, with Henry Jackson in the chair.
Come on you Reds!