Liverpool F.C. vs Barnsley F.C. Lineups: Confirmed Jan 12 2026

When Liverpool drew 0-0 with Arsenal on January 8, 2026, manager Arne Slot made a promise: his side would be “strong” for the FA Cup visit from Barnsley three days later. He wasn’t bluffing. The confirmed lineups for the January 12 clash at Anfield showed six changes from the Arsenal match, but the quality remained unmistakably Liverpool — and the result backed up every word. Here’s what we know from kickoff to final whistle.

Match Date: 12 Jan 2026 · Competition: FA Cup · Result: Liverpool 4-1 Barnsley · Kick-off: 7:45pm GMT

Is the Liverpool Barnsley game on TV?

Yes — and across multiple platforms, depending on where you’re watching from. TNT Sports 1 carried the game in the UK, with ESPN handling the US broadcast. Australian viewers could follow it on Stan Sport, while SonyLIV covered the match for India.

Liverpool have won all 11 previous FA Cup ties played on January 12, a streak that made this date a promising fixture for the club regardless of opponent.

Who won the game between Liverpool and Barnsley?

Liverpool won 4-1. The scoring started early, with Dominik Szoboszlai finding the net in the 9th minute after an Alexis Mac Allister assist. Jayden Frimpong doubled the lead in the 36th minute, again assisted by Mac Allister. Barnsley pulled one back through A. Phillips in the 40th minute, but Liverpool substitute Florian Wirtz struck in the 84th minute, and Hugo Ekitike completed the rout in the 94th minute.

Goal scorers and timing

• Liverpool: D. Szoboszlai 9′ · J. Frimpong 36′ · F. Wirtz 84′ · H. Ekitike 94′
• Barnsley: A. Phillips 40′

What this means: Barnsley showed fight — scoring at Anfield is no small achievement — but Liverpool’s ability to score at will after making half a dozen rotations exposed exactly why clubs from the lower leagues struggle against Premier League depth.

Liverpool vs Barnsley: Confirmed Lineups and Team News

Arne Slot delivered exactly what he promised: a strong lineup with “some substitutions” rather than a shadow team. Six changes were made from the side that drew 0-0 with Arsenal on January 8, but those six changes included internationals and promising youth.

Liverpool starting XI

• Mamardashvili (GK)
• Frimpong — off 60′
• Gomez — off 60′
• Van Dijk (captain)
• Robertson
• Mac Allister — off 88′
• Szoboszlai
• Chiesa — off 60′
• Jones
• Ngumoha — off 73′
• Gakpo

The bench read like a second starting XI: Alisson, Endo, Konate, Kerkez, Wirtz, Ekitike, Gravenberch, Nyoni, and Ramsay.

Barnsley starting XI

• Mahoney (GK)
• O’Keeffe
• Watson
• Durand de Gevigney
• Shepherd
• Ogbeta — off 73′
• Phillips — off 73′
• Bland
• Yoganathan — off 88′
• Cleary
• Keillor-Dunn (captain) — off 81′

Barnsley substitutes who played: O’Connell (73′), Kelly (73′), McGoldrick (81′), Gent (88′).

Injury and suspension updates

Barnsley captain Luca Connell was suspended and unavailable. Conor Hourihane had hoped for returns from Georgie Gent, Marc Roberts, and Nathanael Ogbeta, with Ogbeta ultimately recovering in time to start. For Liverpool, Mohamed Salah was on AFCON duty, Alexander Isak (ankle, estimated return late April), Wataru Endo (ankle, estimated return late January), and Conor Bradley (knee, estimated return late February) were all ruled out.

Arne Slot had said of Hugo Ekitike’s availability: “Hugo, that is not 100 per cent sure but we will do everything to have him available on Monday.” He made it — and scored.

Has Barnsley ever lost at Anfield?

Yes — comprehensively. The 4-1 defeat on January 12, 2026, was Barnsley’s latest chapter in a one-sided history against Liverpool. Barnsley sit in League One, two points above the relegation zone, and face regular opponents of a completely different caliber week in, week out.

The pattern: Liverpool have won all 11 of their previous FA Cup matches played on January 12, making this date something of a lucky charm — regardless of opponent.

Broadcast Details and Kick-off Information

Kick-off was at 7:45pm GMT on Monday, January 12, 2026, at Anfield. The referee was Farai Hallam, with no VAR in operation. Attendance reached 60,206.

What they said

“Hugo, that is not 100 per cent sure but we will do everything to have him available on Monday.”

— Arne Slot, Liverpool Manager

“Nathanael Ogbeta will definitely be back… Robbo is going to be touch and go but we will give him every chance… He [O’Connell] will definitely be involved.”

— Conor Hourihane, Barnsley Head Coach

For Premier League clubs facing lower-league opposition in cup competitions, the choice is stark: rotate and risk embarrassment, or preserve starters and risk fatigue. Slot chose rotation and got a 4-1 win with goals from six different scenarios — starters, substitutes, early and late. For Barnsley’s next League One fixture, the challenge is to turn that Anfield experience into points, not pity.

Related reading: Germany National Football Team Games: 2026 WC Fixtures

As Liverpool finalizes its lineup for the FA Cup clash with Barnsley at Anfield, insights from the Brentford vs Liverpool lineups highlight potential squad rotations amid injury concerns.

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