Josh Earl is looking forward to facing boyhood club Liverpool when Barnsley visit Anfield on Monday evening in the third round of the FA Cup.

The defender is a lifelong Liverpool fan whose first game was the famous Champions League win against Olympiakos on their win to winning the trophy in 2005. He will have plenty of friends and family in the crowd.

While hoping to face some of the best players in the world, he is prepared for whoever Arne Slot selects.

Earl told the Chronicle: “It will be exciting when the team-sheets come out but it doesn’t matter who plays, we have to be fully focused and prepared.

“Of course you hope to play against the best players. That’s the whole aim of football. We would definitely rather play the strongest team possible but, if they do choose to play a weakened side, it gives us every chance to go there and potentially get a result.”

Barnsley will be backed by about 6,000 fans. Earl said: “It’s a very special night for the fans and they should enjoy it. Hopefully we can make them proud.”

Earl also reacted to the signing of fellow defender Eoghan O’Connell this week.

“I think it’s a great signing. He adds lot of experience. We’ve struggled a bit in defence at times. With Robbo’s (Marc Roberts) injury we have lacked a little bit of experience. He (O’Connell) has been brilliant with the lads and settled in really really quickly. He’s a great guy.”