With FA Cup weekend freshly over, we now enter another period of high-octane cup action alongside continuing league efforts that are becoming more important as 2026 creeps slowly on.

Here are our picks for the best drama to take in this midweek.

Image by choppers3 from Pixabay

Monday, 12th January, FA Cup, Liverpool v. Barnsley, 19:45

The FA Cup enters its third round this week, with a replay of one of the most memorable FA Cup upsets of ‘recent’ memory. In 2008, a Championship Barnsley team overcame a 2-1 deficit to defeat Rafa Benitez's Liverpool team at Anfield, thereby eliminating them in the fifth round.

In the intervening 18 years, Liverpool has turned into even more of a domestic juggernaut, while Barnsley now reside in League One.

Specifically, Barnsley now finds themselves in the bottom half of League One, hovering dangerously close to the drop zone with 29 points in 17th place. Just two points separate them and Burton on the 21st, and with their last win coming in mid-December, Hourihane’s side looks to be in a downward spiral as they enter their worst run of form since late September.

A draw in their last fixture away at Wigan was a welcome change to the three straight defeats suffered over the festive period. But it will take more than that to defeat a Liverpool side unbeaten since late November in all competitions.

The Reds have still been somewhat disappointing, with many draws that were expected to be more straightforward wins against the likes of Fulham and Leeds. Their 0-0 draw with Arsenal last weekend did nothing to quell concerns, but nevertheless, Slot’s defending champions are still not far away from their calamitous early-season form.

Barnsley will need to show considerable determination to emerge victorious in this match, but the FA Cup is designed for encounters like this. Anfield could play host to yet another shock that will no doubt bring upon a new wave of uncertainty on Merseyside.

Date: 12/01/2025

Time: 19:45

Venue: Anfield Stadium, Liverpool

The match will be shown on TNT Sports 1.

 

Wednesday 14th January EFL Cup Semi-Final: Chelsea v Arsenal 20:00

The League Cup serves up a much more balanced affair with a London derby semi-final in a clash between two sides seemingly on opposite ends of the spectrum currently.

Arsenal are occupying top spot in the Premier League, with two losses from 21 and a five-point buffer to Manchester City. The Gunners have gone six games without a loss in the league, putting them in contention for their first Premier League title since the 2003-04 season.

It is yet to be seen whether Arteta has the calibre to finally win a title, but his side has shown a different level thus far, and now they will just be looking to avoid the dip that curtailed their hopes last season.

Chelsea, on the other hand, are in a state of unrest following the sacking of Enzo Maresca on January 2nd. The departure was seen as somewhat of a shock despite an inconsistent run of results that saw the Blues with just two wins from nine in all competitions.

Under-21s boss Calum McFarlane has been interim coach and has presided over two more disappointments in the form of a 1-1 draw to Man City and a 2-1 loss to Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Liam Rosenior, the new boss and former head coach of Strasbourg, will take charge for this match, marking his first time in the position. The Englishman had been prospering in northeastern France, with his Strasbourg side currently in seventh in Ligue 1.

Rosenior joins a Chelsea side in eighth but still in touching distance of the European places, with two points separating them from fifth-placed Brentford and four points off the top four.

Being away from league action does not signal comfort for the incoming manager, as he has been thrust into a potentially fiery derby for a spot in a domestic final. There could be no better way to get on the good side of a fan base far from high spirits, but a meeting with Arteta's Arsenal could be a step too far against a side looking to dominate all competitions this season.

Date: 14/01/2026

Time: 20:00

Venue: Stamford Bridge, London

The match will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football.

 

Friday, January 16th, EFL Championship: West Bromwich Albion vs. Middlesbrough, 20:00

Now, the focus shifts from the cups to domestic action, with Middlesbrough aiming to narrow the gap with Coventry at the top of the Championship against a struggling West Brom team. 

Boro have been unsurprisingly one of the best performers in the Championship, as they find themselves in second place on 46 points. They would like to be closer to current frontrunners Coventry, who under Lampard have constructed a well-oiled machine that now sits six points ahead of Middlesbrough.

Kim Hellberg's team will likely be closely monitoring Ipswich, who trail them by two points. They will also be closely monitoring Preston and Millwall, who are currently in the playoffs and only three points behind Boro.

Those on Teesside will be hopeful of a repeat of their most recent 4-0 win over Southampton, which did end a slow run of four games without victory. They will also be hopeful of a similarly easy encounter against a West Brom side that are languishing in 18th place, having just relieved Ryan Mason of his head coaching duties.

The Baggies have just two wins from their last eight matches and are in search of their first victory of 2026 following back-to-back defeats to Swansea and Leicester to start out the new year.

West Brom, with a much more favourable gap of seven points between them and Norwich in 22nd place, are also watching closely.

Both are fighting to make room behind them, and a loss for either could spell trouble and a few more concerned heads as the second tier enters one of its most important periods, where clubs are hunting for progress.

Date: 16/01/2026

Time: 20:00

Venue: The Hawthorns, West Bromwich

The match will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football.