Leeds United, Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday - Yorkshire's The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
IF THINGS had been different, Josh Earl would have been watching tonight's cup tie in the stands alongside his Liverpool supporting family.
Instead, he is likely to be out on the pitch at Anfield in the colours of Barnsley.
The FA Cup conjures up personal stories like this and it is what makes the competition all the more alluring.
The Barnsley defender hails from Southport, just up the road from Liverpool.
Barnsley's Josh Earl, pictured in action last season. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpeplaceholder image
Barnsley's Josh Earl, pictured in action last season. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe
He is a lifelong Kopite and Monday evening will be a special one for the Earl family.
They may want Liverpool to win, but they want their boy to do well, above all.
On what represents the proverbial a dream draw for him, the 27-year-old told The Yorkshire Post: "I went to a game not so long ago as a Liverpool fan. I would have definitely gone to a game like this if I was at somewhere else, yes.
"If I'm going to be dead honest, I wasn't actually watching the draw. I was out when my phone blew up and I got loads of texts and I was like: 'what's going on here?
Barnsley defender Josh Earl tussles with Wrexham's Matty James in the League One game at Oakwell last season. Picture: Tony Johnson.placeholder image
Barnsley defender Josh Earl tussles with Wrexham's Matty James in the League One game at Oakwell last season. Picture: Tony Johnson.
"I checked and obviously then I saw the draw and I was absolutely made up. Me and my missus were out in the car and we were jumping around in the car!"
It’s actually not the first time that Earl has faced his boyhood side, but the other occasion was a bit different.
Back in October 2021, Earl was at first club Preston North End, who welcomed Liverpool in an EFL Cup tie in front of just over 22,000 spectators at Deepdale.
The visitors triumphed 2-0, thanks to second-half goals from Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi. North End gave them a scare before that.
Earl continued: "That was a bit of a dream come true back then when I played for Preston. I came on against Liverpool and I've still got Joel Matip's shirt framed up with mine at home.
"But playing at Anfield is a different kettle of fish, really. It's a really, really big dream come true and I am really excited for the moment.
"But as soon as that whistle goes and it's game day, it's on and you've got to focus on the game then.
"I've asked for a few tickets. My dad's got a friend called Lee from Opus Events as well; I'll give him a little shout out.
"He sorted my dad out with a little bit of a box for the family and stuff, which is really nice.
"But I've got loads of tickets for friends and family and stuff and everyone is buzzing."
Earl has plenty of precious memories of watching the reds of Liverpool. The reds of Barnsley also have moments to savour at Anfield as well, more especially their unforgettable 2-1 victory in a huge cup shock in February 2008 which earned the visitors a place in the quarter-final.
Brian Howard, who netted a dramatic injury-time winner at Anfield - Steve Foster's equaliser had earlier cancelled out Dirk Kuyt's first-half opener - was back at Oakwell on Friday and met up with Barnsley players, including Earl.
Barnsley have actually won on their last two visits to the red half of Merseyside, having triumphed there on their last league game at L4 in November 1997, courtesy of Ashley Ward's goal in the club's Premier League campaign of 1997-98.
All told, they are unbeaten on their last three trips to Anfield.
Back in early 1982, Barnsley - then managed by Norman Hunter and in the second tier - earned a League Cup quarter-final replay following a 0-0 draw against a home side whose line-up included Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness, Ian Rush and Alan Hansen.
Barnsley's side – backed by multitudes of supporters who had travelled over from South Yorkshire - had their own heroes in the likes of Mick McCarthy, Joe Joyce, Ian Banks and Trevor Aylott as they earned another shot at Bob Paisley's all-stars.
The Guardian match report described it as the club's proudest day since winning the FA Cup 70 years earlier in 1912.
From his watching brief, Earl had also witnessed many special Anfield moments, with his abiding memory arriving in December 2004.
That magical winter's night was lit up in the dying minutes by a stunning late goal from Liverpool's own ‘Superman’ in Steven Gerrard as the Merseysiders came from behind to beat Greek outfit Olympiakos and go into the next stage of the Champions League.
The strike in front of the Kop has been replayed thousands of times in Liverpool supporting households everywhere, complete with co-commentator Andy Gray's gushing cry of 'you beauty!' following Gerrard's fantastic strike to seal a 3-1 victory.
It was an evening that Earl certainly will not ever forget.
He said: "My first memory is Olympiakos. I think I'm sure we needed to win by two goals to go through in the Champions League.
"I remember that with my dad and I remember spilling my Coca-Cola all over the person in front of me when we scored in the last minutes of the game. I have great memories of going to watch Liverpool from a young age.
"Barnsley also have great history there. I met Brian Howard on Friday who scored the goal, obviously. It was great speaking to him and hearing about his experience and stuff as well."
The stage is now set for Earl and co to make their own memories, hopefully.