At a Glance
- Liverpool hosts League One side Barnsley at Anfield on Monday, Jan. 12 at 2:45 p.m. ET
- ESPN Select ($12/month) streams the match in the US; TNT Sports 1 shows it in the UK
- Reigning Premier League champions enter on a 10-game winning streak and recent draw with league leaders Arsenal
- Why it matters: FA Cup third-round upset potential exists after Barnsley shocked Liverpool at Anfield in 2008
Liverpool opens its FA Cup campaign against Barnsley, a team sitting 57 places below them in England’s football pyramid. The Reds, fresh from a 10-match winning run and a hard-fought draw with Premier League leaders Arsenal, look to advance while managing a crowded schedule.
Match Details and Viewing Options
Kickoff is set for 7:45 p.m. GMT local time at Anfield, translating to 2:45 p.m. ET and 11:45 a.m. PT in North America, and 6:45 a.m. AEDT Tuesday in Australia.
US viewers can stream every remaining FA Cup fixture on ESPN Select for $12 a month. The platform, rebranded from ESPN Plus, also offers ESPN Unlimited at $30 a month for full network access including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews and ESPN Deportes.
UK audiences find the match on TNT Sports 1, available via Sky Q or standalone streaming at £31 monthly. The fee includes Discovery Plus documentaries. TNT Sports carries every third-round fixture except Saturday 3 p.m. kick-offs, sharing rights with the BBC.
Canadian fans access the game through Sportsnet, either via cable or Sportsnet Plus starting at CA$30 monthly or CA$250 annually.
Australian viewers watch on Stan Sport for AU$20 a month atop a base Stan subscription from AU$12. A seven-day free trial is available; the package also covers Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, international rugby and Formula E.
Form and History
Liverpool’s poor early-season form has left a second straight Premier League title unlikely, yet the recent resurgence lifts them into the top four. Barnsley, midtable in League One, arrives with only one victory in their last five matches.
History offers the Tykes hope: in 2008 they stunned a Rafa Benítez-led Liverpool side at Anfield in the fourth round. Conor Hourihane’s squad will aim to channel that memory.
Team News
Promising 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha is tipped to start for Liverpool as manager Arne Slot rotates his squad for cup duty.
Key Takeaways
- Liverpool’s 10-game winning streak and draw with Arsenal signal strong momentum
- Barnsley’s 2008 upset proves giant-killing is possible at Anfield
- Multiple streaming options across regions make the match accessible
- Young talent Ngumoha could feature prominently for the Reds
