Dare we dream of Liverpool?

Like a few boyhood fans who loved football and grew up in the late 1970s and 1980s, Liverpool FC were impossible to resist with their players such as Kevin Keegan, Alan and Ray Kennedy, Emlyn Huges, John  Barnes, David Fairclough (supersub), Terry McDermott, Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness, Ian Rush etc. I loved the team and followed them before I was drawn to my home club of the Cherries. I don't hide the fact because it was an amazing period when the Anfield club were Champions of Europe and flew the English flag. Now of course the Liverpool team has some great quality in its ranks with Gerrard, Suarez, Sturridge, Henderson etc some of whom who will feature in this year's World Cup.

It would be amazing if we could welcome Liverpool FC to
Dean Court, but it's Burton Albion first.

While they have seen some disappointing years in the Premiership it seems that they are on their way back to some more glory years with Brendan Rodgers and it is with great excitement that I welcomed the news that AFCB could potentially be playing them in the FA Cup. But I am an AFCB supporter first and foremost and I speak with trepidation, because I remember when we should have played Liverpool in the FA Cup a few years ago and Burnley FC ruined the prospect and went to knock AFCB out in 2005. It won't be Oldham that could stop the dream but Burton Albion are very much able to ruin the party for the Cherries and will want to earn themselves a big pay day. 

While the opportunity to play Liverpool may seem more simple now in that it is in AFCB's hands the game against Burton Albion, this is going to be a full blooded affair. Burton deserve to play the Merseyside giants just as much as the Cherries, so it will be interesting to see what team Eddie Howe will put out now. Had the fourth round tie been at Anfield he might have put a first team out against Burton to try and ensure a win, but I still think he will give some who have not had much opportunity a chance to play in the third round tie. You can say that is risky and it probably is against a top of the table League Two side, but at the end of the day the Championship is the most important priority. One game against Liverpool at home will not make or break our season, but it would benefit the club with a full house and good media coverage. I can't begin to imagine what it would do for Burton Albion's season.

At least AFCB have that tie to think of at the back of their heads. I am hoping it encourages our players to train well this week and play even better at Wigan next Saturday and during the Burton game on the Tuesday. Our team will also play Watford before a potential fourth round cup tie so there is lots of football to be played and the players should be buzzing this January with some great teams to play. If these are not good days for AFCB then I have no idea what are good days. I'm really enjoying it and I hope you are too.    

Well done to all those who have supported the Burton coach fund. I don't know of any other set of supporters who think so much of others before themselves. Hats off to you all. UTCIAD!