News'I've been going to Anfield since I was 12 - this is the dream draw'

It has been almost six weeks since the Emirates FA Cup third-round draw paired the club he has always supported, and represented at youth level – Liverpool – with his current side, Accrington Stanley.

The Reds will host the League Two outfit at Anfield in a lunchtime kick-off that is overflowing with special meaning for midfielder Coyle.

“I still can’t really believe it until it actually happens,” he said. “It was hard to put into words at the time [of the draw in December] and it’s still hard to put into words now. It’s the dream draw, you can’t say much more than that really.”

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Coyle progressed through the Academy ranks at Liverpool, featuring for the U18s and later the U23s, as well as the U19s in European competition with the UEFA Youth League.

He made the switch to Accrington in the summer of 2021 and has gone on to make 80 appearances with the club in England’s third and fourth tiers.

A frequent returning visitor to the Reds as a fan from the stands, Coyle will be achieving a footballing dream if he takes to the actual pitch this weekend.

“I go all the time to the games when I can,” he said. “I’ve been going with my brother since I was like 12, so I’ve been going for maybe 12 or 13 years now.

“I’m obviously a big Liverpool fan, I love going.

“I never really thought I’d play there but luckily we have drawn them. I’ve played [there] a few times in U21s games in empty stadiums but this is a different kettle of fish, isn’t it?”

The tie brings the two clubs together in a competitive encounter for only the second time – with the other meeting occurring 69 years ago on a day when Liverpool wore yellow at home.

And, naturally, competition will kick in immediately when the first whistle is blown.

“Obviously we’ve had a lot of games in the lead-up to it, so that has been the main focus. But since the game finished on the weekend, you’re looking forward to this one,” said Coyle.

“Me and Josh [Woods] were talking about it, saying, ‘Imagine walking out before the game and we have a look at the pitch, how mad is that going to feel at Anfield?’ You just keep thinking of different little things.

“But you’ve got to focus on the task in hand, which is performing as well – that’s the main one obviously.”