Liverpool manager Arne Slot has issued a firm guarantee that he will field a strong side for Monday's FA Cup third-round tie against Barnsley, directly contrasting his approach from last season's infamous defeat at Plymouth Argyle.
Learning from the Plymouth Gamble
Slot's commitment comes as a direct response to the costly experiment in last season's competition. For the fourth-round trip to Home Park, the manager made a staggering 10 changes to his outfield lineup, handing a rare start to the then 20-year-old James McConnell among others. The gamble backfired spectacularly as a Plymouth side rooted to the bottom of the Championship secured a monumental 1-0 victory.
The selection risk was compounded by an inexperienced substitutes' bench, which featured only two senior figures in Curtis Jones and Darwin Núñez. While Slot defended the decision at the time, citing Liverpool's intense four-trophy chase, the context has now shifted dramatically.
A Changed Landscape for Liverpool
With Liverpool now eliminated from the Carabao Cup and sitting a distant fourth in the Premier League, Slot acknowledges the reduced fixture pressure allows for a different strategy. "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.
He elaborated on the changed circumstances: "It’s obvious that we’re not in the League Cup anymore and 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... you have to make choices."
Slot's promise is unequivocal: "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. So that’s going to be different than last season against Plymouth."
Squad Depth Tested by Injuries
The need for a more experienced lineup is underscored by Liverpool's current injury concerns. The problem has been exacerbated by Conor Bradley's recent injury sustained against Arsenal, further depleting Slot's defensive options.
The manager referenced another rotated side—the 10 changes made for this season's Carabao Cup loss to Crystal Palace—as a necessary evil to protect his squad. He argued that playing key players like Virgil van Dijk in that match could have led to their absence against Arsenal as well.
"I can only hope that Conor Bradley is fit again very soon. But I’m not convinced about that. So maybe another player less," Slot admitted, highlighting the ongoing strain. On a positive note, striker Hugo Ekitiké could return against the League One strugglers after missing the last two games with a hamstring issue.
Despite Barnsley's status in the third tier, Slot is taking no chances, noting they beat Liverpool at Anfield in 2008. His clear message is that the lessons of Plymouth have been learned, and a full-strength Liverpool will be aiming to avoid another historic FA Cup embarrassment.
