Liverpool team vs Barnsley confirmed as Rio Ngumoha and Federico Chiesa decisions made

Liverpool takes on Barnsley in an FA Cup third round tie, with Arne Slot naming a team that includes several big names and decisions made on Rio Ngumoha and Federico Chiesa

Arne Slot looks on prior to the FA Cup third round match between Liverpool and Accrington Stanley in January 2025.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has named a line-up containing several senior players as the Reds take on League One side Barnsley in the FA Cup.

Giorgi Mamardashvili starts in goal with Jeremie Frimpong, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson the back four. Curtis Jones starts with Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Federico Chiesa, Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha making up the rest of the team.

As Slot had hinted would be the case, Liverpool has named a strong matchday squad. Those who are rested are with the group and will be available off the bench, unlike when the Reds crashed out against Plymouth last season, with Hugo Ekitike returning after a minor injury.

"Given our position in the Premier League is currently not what we would want it to be, the FA Cup is a competition that gives us a fresh opportunity to build something meaningful," Slot writes in today's matchday program.

"My experience of the competition is not yet the most extensive — we played only two games last season before going out — but what it means and what it represents is already very clear.

"In those two fixtures, we learned a lot — about ourselves, about the qualities that lower-division opposition can bring, about how it feels to go through and go out, and what the FA Cup means in general.

Arne Slot looks on prior to the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Plymouth Argyle and Liverpool at Home Park (Image: Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

"These are lessons and experiences that we hope will help us not just tonight, but in every round we get to play."

Full-back Conor Bradley, of course, is missing for Liverpool. He is set to be out for the remainder of the campaign with the injury that he sustained in stoppage time at Arsenal last Thursday.

"The injury suffered by Conor in the closing stages of the match soured the evening for us all," Van Dijk writes in his section of the program.

"I am sure you will all join me in wishing Conor a full and speedy recovery. We will be there for him every step of the way.

"In terms of the game, I think there are a lot of things we can reflect upon positively.

"The togetherness we showed, and the way we were able to defend as a team and then take control of the game in the second half, was very good, in my opinion.

"That represents the kind of spirit and mentality we need to show on a consistent basis going forward."

Liverpool starting XI: Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Jones; Chiesa, Szoboszlai, Ngumoha; Gakpo. Subs: Woodman, Endo, Konate, Kerkez, Wirtz, Ekitike, Gravenberch, Nyoni, Ramsay.