Match Preview: Liverpool Begin FA Cup Trophy Hunt Against Barnsley
This one is bigger than it looks on paper...
It might look like a straightforward third-round tie on paper, but Liverpool’s FA Cup clash with Barnsley carries far more significance than it would initally suggest. The Premier League champions facing an EFL League One outfit would usually be a forgone conclusion, but this one could have a twist.
Liverpool are out of the Carabao Cup and are currently fourth in the Premier League. That gap between expectation and reality is beginning to sting. While there’s still a league campaign to run, supporters are starting to look around for something to believe in. This FA Cup run might be all that remains when the dust settles in May. It has to matter.
Squad fragility exposes bigger questions
Liverpool’s squad is visibly stretched. The injuries to Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Alexander Isak are massive blows for both the short and long-term. Wataru Endo’s recovery continues, Hugo Ekitike is still doubtful, and the absence of Mohamed Salah due to AFCON means the spine is weakened. What’s left is a blend of youth, raw talent and patched-up depth.
But perhaps that’s not the worst place to be. Games like this can galvanise. It’s the kind of night where young talents like Rio Ngumoha, Morrison and Nallo can show they belong on the big stage. There’s a thrill to that, and the crowd at Anfield will feed off it. The buzz around Ngumoha in particular, who is someone who can glide past defenders and lift the atmosphere, and is exactly what this team needs right now.
Liverpool Predicted XI: Mamardashvili, Ramsey, Gomez, Nallo, Robertson, Jones, Nyoni, Wirtz, Morrison, Chiesa, Ngumoha.
Bench: Woodman, Konate, Kerkez, Frimpong, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Ekitike.
No room for flat performances
The crowd has been craving inspiration. Even in a ten-match unbeaten run, something has felt missing – that burst of energy, that player to get bums off seats. This is where the FA Cup comes alive. When the tempo has dipped, it’s been players like Ngumoha or Chiesa who show flashes of unpredictability. That unpredictability is essential against teams like Barnsley who will likely defend deep and challenge Liverpool to find solutions in tight spaces.
And Liverpool will need to find them early. With replays scrapped, extra time and penalties loom if the job isn’t done in ninety minutes. Nobody wants another long night. Get ahead early, control the tempo and protect the squad.
Final thoughts and prediction
There are no guarantees in football, but there are responsibilities. Liverpool have the weight of expectation on them, and Barnsley will come with nothing to lose. That makes them dangerous. But Liverpool’s class should tell.
With Anfield behind them, a strong starting eleven, and a sense that this cup matters more than most years, this is a chance to put down a marker.
Predicted Score: Liverpool 3-1 Barnsley.