Liverpool will host Barnsley at Anfield for the FA Cup third round on Monday night, looking to get back to winning ways with a strong performance at home.

Liverpool have not won their last three matches across all competitions, and they will aim to turn the tide in the FA Cup third round vs Barnsley. The Reds have drawn the last three matches against Leeds United, Fulham, and Arsenal. This is a golden opportunity for them to bounce back with a victory and book their place in the next round of the competition.

Barnsley are massive underdogs heading into this game, and it will be interesting to see if they can pull off an upset. Liverpool have not been at their best this season, and they have been quite inconsistent. The away side will certainly fancy their chances here.

Meanwhile, Liverpool has had multiple injury problems, and they are likely to rotate the squad heavily. It will be interesting to see if they can put together a strong enough lineup to get the job done. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Liverpool

The home team will be without Giovanni Leoni (knee), Wataru Endo (knee), Conor Bradley (knee), Mohamed Salah (AFCON), Alexander Isak (fracture), and Hugo Ekitike (thigh) on Monday.

Liverpool are likely to start in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Barnsley, with Giorgi Mamardashvilli in goal. Calvin Ramsay and Andrew Robertson will start as the fullbacks. They will look to help out in defence and attack. Joe Gomez and Rhys Williams will pair up at the heart of the defence.

As for the midfield unit, Curtis Jones will start alongside Trey Nyoni, and the pair will look to add control and composure to the team. Florian Wirtz will look to create opportunities for teammates in the final third. Federico Chiesa will lead the line for Liverpool vs Barnsley, with Rio Ngumoha and Cody Gakpo on either side of him.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Mamardashvilli; Ramsay, Gomez, Williams, Robertson; Jones, Nyoni; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Cody Gakpo; Federico Chiesa

Barnsley

Captain Luca Connell will be unavailable after a straight red card in the last game against Wigan Athletic. Other than that, Conor Hourihane have a fully fit squad to choose from.

Barnsley will also shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Liverpool, with Murphy Cooper in goal. Tennai Watson and Josh Earl will start in the full-back areas. They will look to protect the team defensively and hit Liverpool on the break. Mael de Gevigney and Jack Shepherd will form the central defensive partnership.

As for the midfield unit, Adam Phillips and Jonathan Bland will look to add defensive cover and physicality in the middle of the park. They will look to protect the back four and win the ball back for their team.

Fabio Jalo and David McGoldrick will start on the flanks and look to create opportunities for their team in transition. Patrick Kelly will reprise the central attacking midfield role, looking to link the midfield to the attack. Finally, Davis Keillor-Dunn will lead the line for Barnsley vs Liverpool on Monday.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Cooper; Watson, Gevigney, Shepherd, Earl; Phillips, Bland; Jalo, Kelly, McGoldrick; Keillor-Dunn

Key Stats

• Liverpool are unbeaten in the last six matches in all competitions.
• Barnsley have lost three of the last four matches in all competitions.
• The last time these two sides met in 2008, Barnsley picked up a win away from home.
• Barnsley have let in 11 goals in the last five matches in all competitions.
• Liverpool have kept three clean sheets in the last six matches across all competitions.

Player to Watch

Federico Chiesa

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Liverpool are expected to field a much-changed team here, and the Italian internatioanl is likely to be given a run-out. He could play a key role for Liverpool in the final third. Chiesa is excellent when it comes to linking up with teammates, and he will look to find the back of the net as well.

The home side will need the Italian international to step up and produce a defining performance in the final third. Against Barnsley, the 28-year-old is likely to get plenty of chances, and it remains to be seen whether he can make the most of the opportunity.

Prediction

Liverpool 2-1 Barnsley

The visitors will look to put up a fight here, and this is unlikely to be an easy game for Liverpool. They are likely to rotate the team heavily, and the fringe players will have to step up and deliver strong performances.

However, Liverpool have enough options to change the game if needed, and the depth of the team should see them through. They have enough quality to grind out a narrow victory at home. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Arne Slot and his charges.