Arne Slot offers strong team news hint before Barnsley as Liverpool priority changes

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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has offered a clear hint that he will name a strong side for the upcoming FA Cup tie against Barnsley, reflecting a shift in the club’s priorities compared to last season. Slot stressed that the FA Cup now holds greater importance for Liverpool, especially with the team no longer involved in the League Cup and facing a different overall campaign context than a year ago, when they were competing on multiple fronts and resting players seemed unavoidable.

Slot indicated that almost all the players who featured in the recent 0-0 draw with Arsenal will be involved again against Barnsley, underlining his determination to avoid any repeat of last season’s early cup exit after heavy rotation. Only injured right-back Conor Bradley is certain to miss out, while Liverpool are working to have top scorer Hugo Ekitike available again following a hamstring problem. His potential return would be a timely boost given other absences and the need to maintain attacking quality.

By publicly committing to a strong matchday squad, Slot signaled that he views this FA Cup run as a realistic route to silverware and a key focus for the second half of the season. The messaging represents a deliberate contrast with the controversial selection against Plymouth last year, when heavy rotation backfired and led to criticism as Liverpool crashed out of the competition.

While some rotation and “some substitutions” are still expected, Slot’s comments make clear that senior regulars will remain heavily involved, either starting or on the bench. For Liverpool, the Barnsley tie is therefore framed not as an opportunity for wholesale experimentation, but as an important step in a competition that has “always been very important for this club,” with Slot keen to align his approach with that tradition and ensure there is no complacency against lower-league opposition.