Image Credits: Imago Images
Liverpool begins their FA Cup campaign this evening when they host League One strugglers Barnsley at Anfield, with kick-off scheduled for 7:45pm GMT. Manager Arne Slot has promised to field a significantly stronger side than last season’s shocking defeat to Plymouth Argyle, despite an injury list that continues to grow.
The Reds remain without several key players for tonight’s third-round clash. Conor Bradley is the latest casualty, potentially ruled out for the season following knee surgery after his injury against Arsenal. He joins Alexander Isak, Giovanni Leoni, Wataru Endo, and Stefan Bajčetić on the treatment table, while Mohamed Salah remains away on Africa Cup of Nations duty.
However, Slot has made clear he won’t repeat last season’s antics when a heavily rotated squad crashed out to Plymouth. “I can guarantee you that on Monday you will see all the players that you saw (on Thursday against Arsenal), maybe with some substitutions but then they will be on the bench,” Slot told reporters. “The FA Cup has always been very important for us, but sometimes you have to make choices. Now we’re not in the League Cup anymore.”
This year, FA Cup fourth-round draw takes place tonight, Monday, January 12, at approximately 6:35pm GMT at Anfield, just before Liverpool’s match against Barnsley. The draw will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1, discovery+, and the TNT Sports YouTube channel, with pre-match coverage starting at 6:30pm.
Presented by Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist, the draw will be conducted by Liverpool legends Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole. The fourth-round matches are scheduled for the weekend of Saturday, February 14 and Sunday, February 15, 2026, with fixtures likely running from Friday through Monday depending on television selections.
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