Barnsley have a contingent of Liverpool supporters who will take to the Anfield pitch in the FA Cup, but captain Luca Connell won’t be among them.
Monday night could have been the highlight of Luca Connell’s young career.
As a youngster growing up on Merseyside, he was a big Liverpool supporter despite signing for Bolton at nine years old.
The 24-year-old’s career has so far taken him to Bolton, Celtic, Queen’s Park on loan and back down to England with Barnsley, where he has played 150 times for the Tykes.
Unfortunately, the Liverpool supporter won’t get to experience playing at Anfield, though, because he is suspended, having been sent off in Barnsley’s 1-1 draw with Wigan on New Year’s Day.
Connell picked up a needless red card after 83 minutes for kicking out at the Latics’ Will Aimson after they had jostled with each other.
WREXHAM, WALES - Friday, March 26, 2021: Republic of Ireland's Luca Connell during an Under-21 international friendly match between Wales and Republic of Ireland at Colliers Park. Republic of Ireland won 2-1. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
While Connell won’t be involved, there will still be Liverpool fans playing for the visitors.
Defender Josh Earl comes from Southport and has been a lifelong Red who remembers going to his first game, Olympiakos at home when Steven Gerrard sent Liverpool through in the 2004/05 Champions League.
“I’ve always been a Liverpool fan,” said the 27-year-old.
“My whole family are Liverpool fans, so yeah, it’s an occasion my family are definitely going to enjoy as well.
“I remember I used to love Steven Gerrard, number one; Daniel Agger, I used to love him as a kid; Rafa Benitez was one of my favourite managers when I was growing up.
“I’ve loved everything about Liverpool Football Club from a young age. I grew up around there, my mum and dad are from Liverpool, and my whole family are Liverpool supporters so it’s a big occasion for me and my family as well.
“It is a massive part of our life, all the way from my grandad all the way down to nieces and nephews now even.
“We all get together and watch Liverpool play when we have chance to, and yeah, it’s a big part of our lives.”
Like Connell, Earl didn’t stay on Merseyside for his youth football. He joined Preston at the age of nine and has now found a home in South Yorkshire after multiple loans and an 18-month spell at Fleetwood.
Asked if his family wants him to win the game despite them being Liverpool fans, Earl laughed and replied: “I’m not sure! My dad probably wants a good game and Liverpool to go through.”
Barnsley have 10-day gap before Liverpool game
• READ: Why Barnsley have “blessing” of 10-day preparation for Liverpool FA Cup tie
Ahead of Barnsley’s game at Anfield, they were given a slight boost when their latest game at Port Vale was postponed due to a frozen pitch on January 4, meaning it will have been 10 days since they last played come kick-off.
“I think that’s been a little bit of a blessing for us, the Port Vale game, from an injury point of view,” manager Conor Hourihane said.
“I think it adds a game obviously to the schedule which isn’t ideal, but we were going to be without a couple for Port Vale – there’s no getting away from that.
“Obviously without going into too many names, Robbo (defender Marc Roberts) not being involved in the game. It gives Nathanael Ogbeta a chance to get more involved, so he’ll be clearly involved now for Liverpool.
“It just helps us from that point of view in terms of bodies now that we’ve got a little bit of a break, which is good because we’re not blessed with the biggest of squads.”