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

Arne Slot knows that the Premier League title is beyond Liverpool this season, but the FA Cup and the Champions League offer opportunities to make something of the campaign

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has hinted that he will field a strong team against Barnsley in the FA Cup on Monday, with his side's hopes of silverware this season coming down to that competition and the Champions League.

Last season, Liverpool exited the FA Cup away at Plymouth, with Slot making wholesale changes. Harvey Elliott gave away a penalty, and the Reds struggled, having changed things up too much.

While the Barnsley game is at Anfield, Liverpool won't want a repeat of that shock. Slot could really do without another negative result after beginning to turn things around in the last month or so.

"Were we already knocked out of the Champions League in that moment when we played Plymouth? No, so there was a question a second ago about the substitutions we made and how big a squad we have," Slot said ahead of the third round tie.

"I think 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 is obvious that we are not in the League Cup anymore, and the FA Cup has always been very important for this club.

"Sometimes in a season when you are still competing for the League Cup, the Champions League, and the league. With the amount of players we had last season and we have this season, you have to make choices.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

"I can guarantee you that on Monday you will see all the players you see (against Arsenal). Maybe with some substitutions, but then they will be on the bench, so that is going to be different from last season against Plymouth."

With injuries and absences limiting his choices, Slot doesn't have that much room to rotate, though the likes of Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni could start.

Wataru Endo may not be back from a two-month absence, however, and Conor Bradley became the latest concern when he was stretchered off against Arsenal on Thursday.

"I am not sure because we all know that in the FA Cup or cup competitions things can happen, but you cannot compare Plymouth away with the players we played back then to Barnsley at home," Slot insisted.

"Barnsley, I was just informed, the last time they played against us, they beat us. That was in 2008 but in our stadium so we take them as we took Plymouth very serious as well.

"People would argue if they look at the line up but I have again have to tell them why did we do it.

"Why did we play the League Cup against Crystal Palace with the players we have played? That is because if we had played maybe Virgil [van Dijk] and these players again, I would have missed out on them (against Arsenal) as well.

"I can only hope that Conor Bradley is top fit again very soon but I am not convinced about that so maybe another player less."