Liverpool manager Arne Slot has issued a firm guarantee to supporters: there will be no repeat of last season's FA Cup squad rotation when the Reds host Barnsley at Anfield in the third round on Monday. This comes as a direct response to the painful memory of a shock 1-0 defeat to then-Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle at the same stage last year.
Learning from the Plymouth Gamble
Slot's approach for that fateful fourth-round tie at Home Park was radical. He made 10 changes to his outfield players, handing a rare start to the then 20-year-old James McConnell among others. The gamble backfired spectacularly. Compounding the risk, his bench was notably inexperienced, featuring only Curtis Jones and Darwin Núñez as senior options.
While the Dutch coach stands by that decision, citing the intense fixture pressure of a quadruple-chasing campaign at the time, the context has now shifted. "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 explained. "But it's obvious that we're not in the League Cup anymore."
A Strong Side Promised for Anfield Encounter
With Liverpool now out of the Carabao Cup and sitting fourth in the Premier League, Slot acknowledges the FA Cup's heightened importance. He has promised a lineup bearing close resemblance to the one that recently faced Arsenal. "I can guarantee you that on Monday you will see all the players you saw against Arsenal, maybe with some substitutions, but then they will be on the bench," he stated. "So that's going to be different than last season against Plymouth."
Slot also defended his similar rotation in this season's Carabao Cup exit to Crystal Palace, arguing it was a necessary measure to protect a squad already stretched thin. The recent injury to Conor Bradley during the Arsenal match has further depleted his defensive options. "If we had played Virgil [van Dijk] and these players again maybe I would have missed out on them against Arsenal as well," he reasoned.
Barnsley Warning and Squad Update
The Liverpool boss is taking nothing for granted against the League One side, noting that Barnsley's last visit to Anfield in 2008 resulted in a victory for the Tykes. In terms of team news, there is a potential boost with striker Hugo Ekitiké possibly returning from a hamstring issue that sidelined him for the last two games. However, concern remains over the fitness of the injured Conor Bradley.
Slot's clear message is one of focus and respect for the competition. After the lessons of Plymouth, Liverpool's approach to the FA Cup is set to be significantly more robust as they seek to avoid another historic upset on home turf.
