Liverpool boss Arne Slot insisted he will not make wholesale changes for their FA Cup third-round tie against Barnsley after their failings against Plymouth Argyle last season. 

The Reds were dumped out in the fourth round of the competition in 2024-25 by then Championship strugglers Plymouth, who emerged 1-0 victors at Home Park last February. 

Indeed, Plymouth became the first side from outside the Premier League to eliminate the team top of the top-flight since Wigan against Manchester City in February 2018.

It was also the first time Liverpool were knocked out of the competition by a lower league opponent while leading the table since January 1984 against Brighton.

The likes of Kostas Tsimikas, James McConnell and Trey Nyoni all started that game, while fellow youngsters Isaac Mabaya and Trent Kone-Doherty came off the bench. 

"Last season I made the decision that some players needed to rest in the FA Cup because you cannot play every player every single time," Slot told reporters. 

"But it's obvious that we're not in the League Cup any more.

"The FA Cup has always been very important for us, but sometimes in a season where you are still 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 from last season against Plymouth."

Next up, we're back in #EmiratesFACup action pic.twitter.com/R0vNB0Kcl0

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 9, 2026

Hugo Ekitike could return to the fold for Liverpool after the striker missed the Reds' last two Premier League games with a thigh injury. 

Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha are also expected to receive minutes, while the visit of League One side Barnsley could be an opportunity for Federico Chiesa to shine. 

Chiesa has made 20 appearances in all competitions this season, three of which have been starts, while also registering two goals and three assists for the Reds. 

"I spoke to him [Chiesa] two days ago, and he said to me that he played more in recent weeks than he ever did before under me," Slot added.

"But he is one of the players that could feature in that game, definitely. But, like I said, Hugo might be back, so let's see how we will start that game.

"He is one of the options that I have, so let's see."

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 have not been knocked out at this stage against a non-Premier League side since 2009-10, going out against Reading, but history has not been kind to them in this fixture. 

Barnsley have won their last two games at Anfield in all competitions, winning in the Premier League in 1997 and the 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).