Liverpool bid to avoid FA Cup slip-up at home to Barnsley | OneFootball

Liverpool will look to return to winning ways when they welcome League One side Barnsley to Anfield in the FA Cup third round on Monday night.

The Reds head into the tie on the back of three consecutive draws and will view this fixture as a timely opportunity to move one step closer to silverware.

With their hopes of retaining the Premier League title fading in recent weeks, Liverpool are increasingly likely to prioritise the domestic cups as realistic routes to success this season.

Arne Slot’s side are unbeaten across their last ten matches in all competitions, but the lack of cutting edge in recent games has stalled their rhythm.

Barnsley arrive on Merseyside sitting 17th in League One and locked in a battle to stabilise a difficult campaign.

The Tykes have won just eight of their 21 league matches and have struggled badly for consistency.

Their problems have been even more pronounced away from home, where they have recorded only two victories in their last 12 trips.

That record underlines the scale of the challenge facing them against elite opposition in one of English football’s most demanding venues.

Liverpool will be wary of complacency after suffering an embarrassing FA Cup exit last season, but the expectation is that they will impose themselves early.

Slot is likely to rotate, but still field a side strong enough to control the game and avoid unnecessary drama.

Barnsley will aim to frustrate and stay compact for as long as possible, knowing that an early concession could end the contest quickly.

Their best hope may lie in set pieces and moments of disruption rather than sustained pressure.

This is not just about reaching the next round for Liverpool, but about rediscovering authority at a critical stage of the season.

The game is a free hit for Barnsley, but one that will demand discipline, resilience and a degree of fortune.