Manager taking game against League One side “very seriously” to avoid an upset
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has vowed to field a strong lineup against Barnsley to avoid any chances of an upset.
The Premier League’s defending champions face the League One side on Monday, with memories of their exit at the hands of Plymouth last season still fresh in their minds.
“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,” Slot said.
“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.”
Liverpool lost 1-0 in that game but were already racing towards their 20th Premier League title. This season, though, Slot’s side are currently in fourth place, 14 points behind league leaders Arsenal, and they have also exited the Carabao Cup after losing 3-0 to Crystal Palace back in October. With only the Champions League and the FA Cup their remaining chances for silverware this season they are heavily focusing on them.
“I was just informed the last time Barnsley played against us they beat us in 2008 in our stadium,” Slot said. “We take them very seriously.“
