Liverpool's FA Cup Redemption Mission: Arne Slot Learns from Past Mistakes
Arne Slot reflects on Liverpool's humbling FA Cup defeat to Plymouth last year and vows to make amends as they face Barnsley. The Reds boss emphasizes the importance of fielding a strong lineup and avoiding giant-killing upsets. Read on to discover Slot's strategy for the upcoming clash and the team's injury concerns.
Arne Slot has vowed that he will not be making the same mistake twice at Liverpool, with the Reds boss taking valuable lessons from an FA Cup giant-killing in 2025. Some 12 months ago, the then-runaway Premier League leaders suffered a humbling third-round defeat to Plymouth - who were bottom of the Championship at the time. They are now preparing to face Barnsley in 2026 and will avoid any sweeping changes.Liverpool rotated all 10 of their outfield players for a meeting with the Pilgrims at Home Park, and paid the price as the Reds found themselves on the wrong end of a famous giant-killing. Slot named an inexperienced bench that day, with Curtis Jones and Darwin Nunez the only senior stars to figure among his replacements.The Merseysiders were competing on four fronts at the time, in domestic and continental competition, and felt the need to shuffle their pack in order to keep key personnel fit. They have fallen off the pace in their top-flight title defence this term and are already out of the Carabao Cup.With that in mind, Slot has vowed to go much stronger when League One outfit Barnsley pay a visit to Anfield on Monday. He has said: “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.“But 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, with the amount of players we had last season and have this season, you have to make choices.“But 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.”Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!Slot also paid the price for making 10 changes in a Carabao Cup tie with Crystal Palace this season, as Liverpool were dumped out of that competition, but he maintains that such an approach has to be taken early in any given campaign.The Dutchman added: “We all know in cup competitions things can happen, but you cannot compare Plymouth away with the players we played back then to Barnsley at home. I was just informed the last time Barnsley played against us they beat us in 2008 in our stadium. We take them very seriously. As we took Plymouth as well, and people would argue that if they look at the lineup.“But then I again have to tell them why we did this, and why did we play the League Cup against Crystal Palace with the players we’ve played. That is because if we had played Virgil [van Dijk] and these players again maybe I would have missed out on them against Arsenal as well.”Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingLiverpool played out a goalless draw with Premier League leaders Arsenal in their last fixture. They more than held their own at Emirates Stadium - despite failing to register a shot on target - and are now 10 games unbeaten across all competitions.They did, however, suffer another injury setback against the Gunners - having recently lost £125 million ($168m) record signing Alexander Isak to a broken leg. Conor Bradley picked up a knee problem in north London.That incident generated plenty of controversy, with the Northern Ireland international right-back going down after clearing the ball out of play. Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli subsequently tried to drag the 22-year-old from the pitch, with the Brazilian forward later apologising for his actions.It has been suggested that Bradley, who is set to undergo surgery, will sit out the remainder of the season despite avoiding an ACL rupture. He has damaged the bone and ligaments in his left knee.While Bradley has been ruled out for the foreseeable future, and is sweating on his World Cup dreams as Northern Ireland seek to navigate a route to that tournament through the UEFA play-offs, French forward Hugo Ekitike is available again after sitting out two matches with a hamstring problem.
Learning from History
Arne Slot, the manager of Liverpool, is determined not to repeat the same errors that led to a shocking FA Cup exit against Plymouth in 2025. The Reds, who were dominant in the Premier League at the time, suffered a humbling defeat to a struggling Plymouth side. Slot had rotated all outfield players, fielding an inexperienced bench, and paid the price for underestimating their opponents.
Changes for Barnsley Clash
Slot acknowledges the significance of the FA Cup and has assured fans that Liverpool will field a strong lineup against Barnsley. He highlights the importance of balancing squad rotation with the team's ambitions across various competitions but emphasizes that the FA Cup holds a special place for the club. Slot promises a different approach this time around, with key players expected to start and minimal changes from the recent fixture against Arsenal.
Injury Concerns and Comebacks
Liverpool faced injury setbacks, with Alexander Isak sidelined due to a broken leg and Conor Bradley suffering a knee injury in the previous match against Arsenal. While Isak faces a lengthy recovery, Bradley's season-ending injury has raised concerns. However, the return of Hugo Ekitike after a hamstring problem provides a boost to the squad ahead of the FA Cup clash.
Focus and Determination
Liverpool's resilience was evident in their goalless draw against Arsenal, showcasing their ability to compete at the highest level. Despite recent injuries and setbacks, the team remains focused on their objectives and aims to bounce back from previous disappointments. Slot's dedication to avoiding complacency and learning from past mistakes underscores the team's determination to succeed in the FA Cup.

