Liverpool v Barnsley
The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Fifth Round Proper
3pm, Saturday 16 February 2008
Anfield, Liverpool FC
Winning clubs will receive £120,000 from The FA
Click here to see the fixtures



Barnsley manager Simon Davey grew up watching and supporting Liverpool as a youngster and now he takes his team to Anfield with the hope of picking up a famous victory.

The Tykes follow in the footsteps of non-League outfit Havant & Waterlooville, who put in a heroic performance on Merseyside in the Fourth Round, and Davey has urged his players to take their chance when they step onto the big stage.

“People say the lads have to go there and enjoy it,” revealed Davey.

“But that is the last thing I will tell them, that they have an opportunity and they have to enjoy it.

“This will be the pinnacle of some of their careers so far and they have to make sure they take the chance.

“We are going there to try and win the game. We do not want the players to freeze and we do not want this opportunity to pass us by.

“Liverpool were European Champions a couple of years ago and we are relishing the game. We have the chance to go out there and do the club proud.”

Davey couldn’t hide the pride that he will have in managing a team at Anfield though, after growing up in the Welsh town of Swansea as a fervent Reds fan.

“I supported Liverpool as a lad and I will be very proud to lead the team out at Anfield. But they are a huge club with big players and a fantastic stadium,” he added.

“It is a great occasion for our fans. We have given them the opportunity to go to Liverpool and I am sure that they will enjoy the day, so we want to do them proud.”

With most of the Liverpool players being household names already, Davey admits that there isn’t too much he can tell his men about who they will be coming face-to-face with, although he has spoken to his former Preston North End team-mate and Everton boss David Moyes to try and get an extra lowdown on Rafael Benitez’s side

“I have spoken to David Moyes this week about Liverpool, but there is not much he could tell us that we have not seen on the television,” he explained.

“There is not much I can tell our lads that they have not seen for themselves on ‘Match Of The Day’ so we will train at Everton and just prepare for the game.”