League One’s leading goal scorer, Alfie May, has revealed his dream of facing Liverpool in the FA Cup, despite not considering himself a passionate football enthusiast. The 30-year-old Charlton Athletic striker has netted an impressive 17 goals in all competitions this season and hopes to propel his team into the third round of the FA Cup as it faces Gillingham today.
A victory in this match would place Charlton in the same category as renowned Premier League giants such as Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, and Chelsea during the third-round draw. The Reds will be ball 21 in tomorrow’s draw, with Jürgen Klopp’s side set to learn its fate shortly before kicking off against Fulham.
Per the Mirror, May expressed his desire for a trip to Anfield in the New Year. “The FA Cup is an amazing trophy to play in and it’s important for us to make some money for the club. If we can get a big draw, I’d want Anfield away. I’m not a big football lover but my dad’s a big Liverpool fan. That’d be a great trip, wouldn’t it?”
Although May may not share the same level of obsession with football as many of his peers, he remains focused on continuing his impressive scoring record in the 2023/24 season. In League One, May has found the net 14 times, the same record Erling Haaland boasts in the Premier League and the joint-second best record across the EFL.
He aims to lead Charlton to victory against Gillingham and potentially set up a clash against formidable opponents like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk. But the FA Cup journey has not been plain sailing so far, with the EFL side requiring a replay against (extremely) non-league Cray Valley Paper Mills to progress to this point.
“I just see net,” May emphasized. “I love scoring goals and seeing the ball go in the net. It’s the best feeling ever. I always put pressure on myself to do even better. I just want to keep scoring goals and keep going.”
Liverpool, who clinched the FA Cup title in 2022, will be one of the 20 Premier League teams entering the competition at the third-round stage. Matches are scheduled to take place on January 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th. It has been 16 years since Liverpool last hosted Charlton at Anfield, which came during a Premier League campaign. On that occasion, Rafa Benítez’s side fought back twice to secure a draw against the London club, with goals from Xabi Alonso and Harry Kewell.
While May’s passion for football may not match that of his fellow players, his dream of facing Liverpool at Anfield is fueled by his father’s unwavering support for the club. As he continues to find the back of the net, keeping pace with Haaland, May hopes to make his father proud and create lasting memories in the FA Cup — although if he were to experience the ‘best feeling ever’ by scoring against the Reds, he might risk upsetting his old man!
