‘Natural goalscorer’ puts himself in the picture for Liverpool debut in Monday’s FA Cup clash

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Liverpool are set to field an interesting line-up during Monday’s FA Cup tie with Barnsley as Arne Slot looks towards the academy.

The Reds are severely depleted at first-team level, and with Slot no doubt keen to give many of his senior stars the night off, it could be an unrecognisable Liverpool team.

While that may lead to concern over getting a result at Anfield, it could mean that Liverpool fans see a number of first-team debuts handed out.

Is winning the FA Cup enough to keep Arne Slot in a job beyond 2025/26? If not, why? 🤔

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Slot has drawn criticism for not leaning into the Liverpool academy and offering chances to the club’s talented young players, but he has an opportunity to change that on Monday.

One player who is making a push for first-team recognition is striker Keyrol Figueroa. After hitting two goals during the U21s’ final fixture before the match, the 19-year-old may be on the cusp of his first senior minutes at Liverpool.

Keyrol Figueroa continues goal-scoring form

As Liverpool search for solutions at centre-forward following injury to Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak, Figueroa should be in their thinking.

The teenager scored a dramatic injury time winner during Friday’s 3-2 win over Norwich, having already come off the bench to find the net once.

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Only introduced with half an hour left to play, Figueroa demonstrated his goal-scoring abilities to score two goals and win the game for Rob Page’s team.

With players such as Amara Nallo, who also scored, Wellity Lucky and Trent Kone-Doherty in action, it is probable that the first-team Liverpool coaches were keeping an eye on which youngsters may be useful for them on Monday.

Having seen Figueroa take his Premier League 2 tally to seven goals in nine appearances, he should have shot to the top of their list.

Which FA Cup final was the first you remember?

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Figueroa described himself as a ‘natural goalscorer’ when speaking to Liverpoolfc.com 12 months ago. Since then he has continued to prove that to be true. It feels like the right time for the American to get his chance.

Which other Liverpool youngsters could be involved?

As Slot showed with his team for the Carabao Cup defeat against Crystal Palace in October, he is not averse to naming a completely changed line-up in cup competitions.

Given the status of Barnsley as a lower-half League One team, it should be expected that the Liverpool head coach will repeat the trick on Monday.

There will be some senior involvement, with Giorgi Mamardashvili, Joe Gomez, Andy Robertson and Federico Chiesa all likely to start. Curtis Jones may be involved too. However, the other positions are seemingly up for grabs for Liverpool’s young talents.

Figueroa is unlikely to start as part of that, but after his heroics this weekend there is certainly a possibility he will at least make the bench. Liverpool are short in attack, and although Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha are likely to play, it is unclear who else will start up front.

Elsewhere, Calvin Ramsay will probably start at right-back, with Trey Nyoni virtually certain to begin in midfield. Kieran Morrison, Lucky, Nallo and Kone-Doherty could also be in with their own chances.