Image Credits: Imago Images
The Emirates FA Cup is famous for producing drama and upsets.
For Liverpool, Monday’s third-round clash with Barnsley is the first FA Cup test of Arne Slot’s 2025–26 campaign.
Kick-off is set for 7:45 PM GMT at Anfield.
Liverpool, currently 4th in the Premier League and coming off a goalless draw with Arsenal, are heavy favorites.
Barnsley, 17th in League One, enters as the underdog but will hope to repeat their famous “giant-killing” from 2008, when they stunned Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield in the fifth round.
That historic game saw Barnsley’s debutant goalkeeper Luke Steele, on emergency loan, pull off incredible saves and be named Man of the Match, while Brian Howard scored the stoppage-time winner to seal one of the FA Cup’s most famous shocks.
FA Cup ties are notoriously unpredictable, and Liverpool must balance progress with managing a squad affected by injuries and international duty.
Several key players are recovering from knocks, while others face longer-term issues. Slot is expected to adjust his lineup while trying to maintain strength on the pitch.
Now the details: Liverpool could miss up to 10 players for Monday’s game. Hugo Ekitike could return after missing the last two matches due to a hamstring complaint and delayed onset muscle soreness.
Slot said: “Hugo, that is not 100 per cent sure but we will do everything to have him available on Monday.”
Conor Bradley is out with a significant knee injury sustained at Arsenal midweek. Mohamed Salah remains on international duty after helping Egypt reach the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals. Wataru Endo has been sidelined since early December.
Slot added: “I think if I am correct he [Endo] might start to train one of these days, but he has been out for two months now, that’s of course different to being out for one week.”
Alexander Isak, Giovanni Leoni, and Jayden Danns are also unavailable.
On Danns, Slot said: “Not fit enough, no. Not even training, if I’m correct. One of the players that got a stress fracture because he was young and from what we’ve been told was a bit over-trained.”
“That’s why we are so careful with Rio Ngumoha, that he’s two days a week off the pitch if that’s possible, to not have that same situation with him.”
“But Jayden is definitely not available in the short term.”
Slot confirmed he will field the strongest possible side: “I can guarantee you that on Monday you will see all the players that you saw [at Arsenal on Thursday], maybe with some substitutions but then they will be on the bench.”
Barnsley will be without captain Luca Connell due to suspension but could welcome back Georgie Gent, Marc Roberts, and Nathanael Ogbeta. Hourihane said of Ogbeta: “He will definitely be involved. We have to get him up to speed as best we can.”
“We know when he gets fit and in a decent place he will be a really valuable player for us heading into the second half of the season.”
Liverpool must balance squad management with the history of FA Cup shocks, making Monday’s tie a test of depth, fitness, and focus.
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