"Every time I go to the Liverpool game, I just picture imagining playing there or dreaming about it," says Josh Woods.

As a youngster, Woods was chased around onto the hallowed Anfield turf by eldest brother Dale, during a small-sided match that his brother, Connor, was playing in during his time as a Liverpool academy player.

And in the build-up to the FA Cup third round tie where Accrington Stanley of League Two take on the Premier League juggernauts, Woods’ father, Dale Sr, posted on Facebook, 'Ran on the pitch as a nipper and now he gets to do it properly in the FA Cup' just to signify how close to home this really is.

READ MORE: I was almost crying just thinking about Liverpool - I thought my last chance had gone

READ MORE: Liverpool star knows exactly what he must to do next after cruel injury blow

The 24-year-old reflects: "It’s surreal, when my dad put the status up, it put it into perspective a bit. Like it was meant to be a bit."

His venture into professional football is by no means linear, the forward attracted the attention of former Accrington Stanley under-23s manager Andy Gray, while playing for Claybrow in the Liverpool Business Houses Sunday league, who approached him for a trial.

Woods’ skirmishes with football saw him playing for local pub teams in Skelmersdale, such as Newburgh, while trying to ply his trade for Marine - now of the National League North - and Northern Premier League side Prescot Cables.

On Saturday, he has plans to touch the 'This is Anfield' sign in the Anfield tunnel when he walks out as an Accrington Stanley player against Liverpool.

'I was in shock then all emotions came out'

ITV cameras will be at Anfield for the 12:15pm kick-off with Woods at the centre of attention after he went viral for his reaction to the draw. If memories of the attacker illegitimately running onto the pitch as a youngster wasn't an inkling into his affirmation with the club, the emotional response to the third round tie being made certainly did.

Dion Dublin pulled out the number 51, Accrington Stanley, and in one living room in Skelmerdale there was bedlam. Josh, his brother Connor and their friend, Tony, leapt off the couch in jubilation.

The video received widespread coverage across social media and there was even a response from Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate, who replied: “Let's go” just to add to the hysteria that would follow Woods in the immediate aftermath.

"I was in shock for the first hour after then Connor gave me a hug and all emotions came out," Woods recalls.

"We were waiting for a big team and I remember United and Arsenal coming out early doors, bigger teams then Liverpool come out [the hat], I was sat on my hands with my fingers crossed, saying to myself, ‘please, please, please’.

"As soon as I seen it was us, I lost all composure."

'I was playing Sunday league four years ago - now I'm hoping to walk out at Anfield'

In the week building up to the FA Cup third round, the nerves begin to kick in for the forward as the media attention surrounding him ramps up.

Woods, who still works as a barber during his days off, has managed haircuts for teammates Liam Coyle and Ben Woods, as well as his granddad in the build-up, but from Thursday the full focus switches to the visit to the six-time European Champions.

Most of his family will be there on Saturday, joining the 4,800-strong Accrington Stanley supporters. But his eldest brother, Dale, will have to settle for watching from the other side of the world in Sydney, Australia, tuning in at 11:15pm. Meanwhile, Connor, who plays for Warrington Town, was due to take on Hereford before the cold snap put an end to their clash.

For the youngest Woods brother, Saturday represents the culmination of countless childhood dreams - ones sparked in the garden pretending to be Steven Gerrard or Fernando Torres or running around Liverpool's training ground while Connor trained.

It's a far cry from sweeping up hair and making coffees at the barbers when he was just 11 years old.

Even as recently as 2021, while playing Sunday league football, he could never have imagined being in contention to walk out at Anfield against Arne Slot's Premier League leaders.

"It's scary how it's come true," Woods reflects, marvelling at how his dreams from the terraces are becoming a reality. "It's scary to think I was on the JMO [Sports Centre in Skelmersdale] four years ago, and now I'm hoping to walk out at Anfield."