Mansion Sports – The FA Cup has always been the perfect stage for classic David versus Goliath stories, and this clash once again brings that narrative to life.

Liverpool, one of the giants of the Premier League, will host Barnsley, who are currently battling in League One.

This match is not only about quality on paper, but also about how the Anfield atmosphere and the ambitions of both teams come together in a competition renowned for its surprises.

The fixture will see Premier League champions Liverpool face Barnsley in the third round of the FA Cup, which will be held at Anfield on Monday night.

The match is scheduled to take place at Anfield on Monday, 12 January 2026, with kick-off at 19.45 local time.

The hosts are currently in fourth place in the Premier League standings, while the visitors sit 17th in League One, meaning there is a gap of 57 places in the English football pyramid between the two teams.

Before the match kicks off, take a look at Mansion Sports’ recommendations on where to watch Liverpool vs Barnsley January 2026 so you do not miss any of the exciting action.

Team Conditions Ahead of the Match

Liverpool

After losing on penalties to Crystal Palace in the Community Shield in their first competitive match of the 2025–26 season, Liverpool responded impressively by winning their next seven matches across all competitions, including the Premier League, the Champions League, and the EFL Cup.

However, behind those victories, worrying signs began to emerge as many of the wins were secured by late decisive goals, and their performances eventually suffered a significant decline.

Crystal Palace once again proved to be a thorn in the side of The Reds by handing the reigning Premier League champions their first league defeat of the season in week six.

That loss was followed by a difficult period, during which Liverpool recorded only three wins from the next 12 matches in all competitions, accompanied by nine defeats.

Arne Slot eventually managed to guide Liverpool out of that poor run of form, with his team now unbeaten in their last 10 matches across all competitions, consisting of five wins and five draws.

Despite appearing to have rediscovered their rhythm in recent weeks, Liverpool have recorded draws in each of their last three matches ahead of this fixture.

Slot will certainly be eager for his team to return to winning ways and avoid an FA Cup upset for a second consecutive season.

Last season, Liverpool were the victims of one of the biggest shocks in the FA Cup after being eliminated following a 1–0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle in the fourth round of the competition.

Liverpool are dealing with numerous injury issues ahead of this match, including Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, Hugo Ekitike, Stefan Bajcetic, and Wataru Endo. In addition, Mohamed Salah remains unavailable as he is representing his country at the Africa Cup of Nations.

As strong favourites facing lower-division opposition, Slot may opt to rotate his squad.

Players such as Trey Nyoni, Rio Ngumoha, and Calvin Ramsay could be given the opportunity to start from the first minute.

Barnsley

Meanwhile, Barnsley arrive for this third-round tie amid a fairly challenging 2025–26 season.

They currently sit 17th in League One with a record of eight wins, five draws, and eight defeats from 21 league matches.

Even so, they have the chance to climb several places in the table as they still have a number of games in hand, with at least three fewer matches played than some of the teams directly above them.

Barnsley’s recent form has also been unconvincing, with The Tykes failing to secure a win in their last four matches, comprising three defeats and one draw.

Barnsley have also struggled away from home in recent months, recording just two wins from their last 12 away matches, along with six defeats and four draws.

For Barnsley, Luca Connell is confirmed to be unavailable, as the midfielder must serve a suspension following the straight red card he received in the last match against Wigan Athletic.

Meanwhile, the rest of the squad is expected to be fit and available, given that they have not played since New Year’s Day after matches against Port Vale and Wycombe Wanderers were postponed.

Where to Watch Liverpool vs Barnsley January 2026

For those who want to watch and are looking for where to watch Liverpool vs Barnsley January 2026, depending on your place of residence, this match can be viewed through official streaming platforms such as:

• beIN Sports
• ESPN
• Stan
• Coupang
• Mono Max
• FPT Play