Barnsley midfielder Adam Phillips has spoken of his excitement ahead of facing boyhood club Liverpool in the FA Cup third round on Monday night. The 27-year-old spent eight years in Liverpool's academy but never made a first-team appearance before leaving in 2017.
Phillips, who has since carved out a career at Norwich, Morecambe, Burnley and now Barnsley, described the prospect of playing at a packed Anfield as a 'very special moment'. 'I have never actually played at Anfield in front of a full crowd,' he said. 'Just walking out at the start of the game, listening to You'll Never Walk Alone – it'll be iconic.' He revealed he has secured 25 to 30 tickets for family and friends, all desperate to be there.
Despite the 57-place gap between League One Barnsley and Premier League Liverpool, Phillips believes an upset is possible. 'They're going to be massive favourites, but we're not just going to go there and expect to get beat,' he insisted. The Tykes last beat Liverpool in the FA Cup in 2008, a result Phillips hopes to replicate. 'It shows it can be done,' he added.
Barnsley go into the match without a win in four games, sitting 17th in League One, but Phillips remains upbeat. 'It's been a bit up and down, but there's a lot of potential in the squad,' he said. 'We believe we can push for the play-offs.' The match kicks off at 8pm GMT on Monday.
