Liverpool v Barnsley: Three stats and three bets for Monday's third round tie | OneFootball

English FA Cup

Get three Opta stats and three bets for Liverpool v Barnsley

League 1 Barnsley visit the Premier League champions in the final match of the FA Cup third round on Monday night. Get three Opta stats and three tips for the Anfield clash...

Liverpool v BarnsleyMonday, 19:45Live on TNT Sports

Could the FA Cup be the best route to glory for Liverpool in Arne Slot's disappointing second season? A competition which will not be the priority for title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City could be the Reds' route to salvaging some silverware from 2025/26. If so, the road to Wembley starts here against opponents who, sitting 17th in League 1, should be easy to beat at Anfield.

Then again, Reds backers will recall that Liverpool crashed out in the fourth round last season against Plymouth Argyle when the Pilgrims were bottom of the Championship. Fans will hope Slot has learned his lesson.

The following is just a short stats based preview of the match. For a more in-depth look ahead to the match, and to get the best bets, read Mike Norman's preview.

Bet #1 - Back Barnsley for FA Cupset

The Stat

If you're going to give this bet a go you might want to stick to small stakes because, at 20/1, it is a big outsider. Note too that the visitors have one victory in their last five matches (D1L3). But this is the FA Cup and we are entitled to a bit of fun, especially when you have a stat as striking as this to hand:

Barnsley have won their last two games at Anfield in all competitions, winning in the Premier League in 1997 and FA Cup in 2008. No side are on a longer ongoing winning run away at Liverpool than the Tykes (also Nottingham Forest and Atalanta on two).

The Bet

Bet #2 - Back Liverpool with two goal handicap

The Stat

Now back down to earth with a Reds stat that will strike fear into the hearts of visitors to Anfield:

Liverpool have progressed from 13 of their last 14 FA Cup third round ties, losing the other 2-1 against Wolves in 2018-19. They haven't been knocked out at this stage against a non-Premier League side since 2009-10, going out against Reading.

The Bet

Bet #3 - Back Reds to win to nil

The Stat

Liverpool have won eight of their last nine FA Cup home matches (D1) since losing 3-2 to West Brom in January 2018. In fact, their last two home defeats have been against W teams (Wolves and West Brom) - they've won their last nine home FA Cup matches against sides not beginning with W by an aggregate score of 25-6.

The Reds have had their defensive problems this season, however, and it may be worth backing Barnsley to notch a consolation goal in a home win at odds-against.

The Bet

Recommended bets

Back Barnsley @ 19/1

Back Liverpool -2 @ 5/4