Manchester United travel to Barnsley on Tuesday for a League Cup tie with manager Sir Alex Ferguson demanding the club bounce back from their surprise loss to Premier League rivals Liverpool.

Ferguson is expected to make wholesale changes for the fourth round match against second-tier Barnsley at Oakwell as he persists in giving his fringe players the chance to prove themselves and stake their claim for a regular place in his first-team squad.

This will not detract from Ferguson's determination to demand a return to winning ways in a bid to put Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Anfield behind them, not to mention book a place in the fifth round and move the holders one step closer to yet another appearance in a major Wembley final.

Ferguson has so much strength in depth and talent at his disposal that he will feel comfortable naming an unfamiliar line-up, safe in the knowledge they should still have the ability to overcome the challenge of Barnsley, who are managed by former Old Trafford favourite Mark Robins.

"It was a disappointing performance and Liverpool were better. We never got any luck in terms of refereeing decisions, but we have to hold our hands up and admit we weren't good enough," Ferguson said.

"Part of the challenge at this club is how you react to disappointment. We lost 4-1 to Liverpool at home last season, which was a travesty at the time. But the players buckled down and we went on to win the league."

Wes Brown, Jonny Evans, Gary Neville and Fabio Da Silva are all expected to be involved against Barnsley, while Darron Gibson will also be handed a central role in midfield and ordered to show his burgeoning talents once again.

Gibson produced an impressive performance in United's third round win over Premier League rivals Wolves and was rewarded with promotion to the English champions' squad for the next league game.

Ferguson will be desperate to hand run-outs to both Danny Welbeck and Federico Macheda in attack.

Welbeck scored the winner against Wolves in the previous round but Macheda's progress has stalled this season following his dramatic impact towards the end of the last campaign.

Ferguson admitted in pre-season that he didn't need to sign another striker, other than Michael Owen, because he had both Welbeck and Macheda.

The clash against Robins's Championship side will be an ideal chance for the duo to prove their manager right.

But the biggest dilemma facing Ferguson will be whom to select in goal.

Tomasz Kuszczak played in the last round, but the United boss might be tempted to throw in Ben Foster in order to boost his fragile confidence after losing his No.1 spot to the fit again Edwin van der Sar.

England coach Fabio Capello would also welcome the chance to cast his eye over Foster's current form as the World Cup in South Africa draws ever closer.

Someone guaranteed to be playing is veteran Barnsley defender Darren Moore, who admits he would love to upset the Ferguson family although not Sir Alex, but son Darren, the current Peterborough manager.

Moore, a member of the Barnsley side which beat Chelsea and Liverpool in the FA Cup two seasons ago, said: "We'll go into the United game with nothing to lose, it's great to have a break from the league but then it's straight back to the Championship with a vital game at Peterborough.

"If you gave me a choice of which of the Fergusons I'd like to beat this week, then without a doubt it'd have to be Darren and not Sir Alex because of the importance of the league.

"But even someone a little longer in the tooth like me gets excited about a game like this. The lads are itching to play and give it a real good go.

"Whatever team United bring here we know they'll be exceptional players, and for us to beat them on the night, then we'll have to have the game of our lives," Moore added.