The magic of the FA Cup returns to Anfield on Monday night as Liverpool welcome League One’s Barnsley in a much-anticipated third round clash. With the famous lights of Anfield setting the stage and a history of shock upsets lurking in the background, there’s a buzz in the air—could we see another chapter written in this storied competition?
Liverpool, currently sitting fourth in the Premier League, enter the match as overwhelming favorites. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Reds are -800 to win inside 90 minutes, with a draw set at +850, while Barnsley are the ultimate underdogs at +1400. The gulf between the two sides is enormous: Liverpool are 58 places above Barnsley in the English football pyramid, a statistic that underscores the scale of the challenge facing the visiting Tykes.
Monday’s fixture kicks off at 7:45 PM GMT (2:45 PM EST) and will be broadcast on TNT Sports 1 in the UK, ESPN in the U.S., SonyLIV in India, and Stan Sport in Australia. The referee for the evening is Farai Hallam, with no VAR in operation—a throwback to the FA Cup’s old-school unpredictability.
For Liverpool, this tie represents a chance to keep their 10-match unbeaten run alive. Their recent form has been steady, if not spectacular: five of those games have ended in draws, and three of their victories have been by a single-goal margin. Their most recent outing—a 0-0 draw away to Premier League leaders Arsenal—showed resilience but also highlighted a lack of attacking bite. In fact, Liverpool failed to register a single shot on target in that match, a first for the club since 2010. Manager Arne Slot isn’t getting carried away with the unbeaten streak, noting that while the run has restored confidence, "the FA Cup has always been very important for us, but sometimes in a season where you still are competing for the League Cup, for the Champions League and the league – with the amount of players we had last season and have this season – you have to make choices. But I can guarantee you that on Monday you will see all the players that you saw [on Thursday], maybe with some substitutions but then they will be on the bench. So that is going to be different than last season against Plymouth."
Squad depth, or the lack thereof, is a hot topic for Liverpool right now. Injuries have piled up, with Mohamed Salah away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Alexander Isak sidelined with an ankle injury until late April, Wataru Endo and Stefan Bajcetic both nursing ankle and hamstring issues respectively, Conor Bradley out with a knee problem until late February, and Giovanni Leoni not expected back until August after an ACL injury. Hugo Ekitike, another forward option, remains a doubt with a hamstring complaint. The right-back position, in particular, has been hit hard, with Conor Bradley’s season-ending injury leaving Calvin Ramsay as the likely starter. The thinness of the squad has prompted speculation about Liverpool dipping into the January transfer market, but for now, Slot seems intent on maximizing the resources at his disposal.
Monday’s predicted Liverpool lineup (4-3-3) features Mamardashvili in goal; Ramsay, Konaté, Van Dijk, and Robertson across the back; Jones, Szoboszlai, and Mac Allister in midfield; and a front three of Ngumoha, Chiesa, and Gakpo. With only four senior forwards available, there’s a real possibility that Federico Chiesa could earn a rare start, while young Rio Ngumoha might get another chance to impress. The FA Cup is seen as a prime opportunity for Liverpool’s backup and fringe players to stake their claim for more regular first-team action.
Barnsley, meanwhile, travel to Anfield with little to lose and everything to gain. The club currently sits 17th in League One, just two points above the relegation zone, with a record of eight wins, five draws, and eight losses from 21 games. December was particularly rough, featuring three consecutive defeats before a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic. The Tykes have not kept a clean sheet in their last six matches and are missing their captain, Luca Connell, who is suspended after a red card in their previous outing.
Despite their struggles, Barnsley manager Conor Hourihane is urging his squad to seize the moment. "It’s difficult to know what personnel will be out there. Are the big boys going to play, or will they go a little bit weaker? Either way, we need to be ready and have a game plan. I want the lads to maximise the opportunity and express themselves," Hourihane said. At just 34 years old, Hourihane is among the youngest managers in English football, but he’s already demonstrated a knack for motivating his players on the big stage.
History, as always in the FA Cup, adds a dash of intrigue. The last time these two sides met was in the 2007-08 FA Cup, when Barnsley stunned Liverpool with a 2-1 win at Anfield. The Tykes also claimed a 1-0 victory at Anfield during the 1997-98 Premier League season. While those days seem distant—Barnsley have been in the third tier since their 2022 relegation from the Championship—they serve as a reminder that anything can happen in this competition. Barnsley, incidentally, have spent more time and played more matches in England’s second tier than any other club, a testament to their enduring presence in the country’s football landscape.
For Liverpool, the stakes are more complicated than they might appear. While the FA Cup offers a tangible shot at silverware and a chance to salvage a season that’s seen them knocked out of the League Cup and battling for Champions League qualification, there’s a risk that overextending the squad could backfire. With six players already sidelined and the top-four race tighter than ever, Slot must balance ambition with pragmatism. The club’s summer spending spree means missing out on Champions League revenue would be a bitter pill to swallow.
As the teams prepare to walk out under the Anfield lights, the question lingers: will Liverpool’s quality and home advantage see them through, or can Barnsley conjure up another FA Cup miracle? With both managers promising strong lineups and the specter of past upsets looming large, Monday night promises drama, tension, and perhaps a few surprises yet.
One thing’s for sure—the FA Cup is alive and well, and Anfield is ready for another memorable night.
