Liverpool teenager Harvey Blair made his debut against Preston earlier this season – and was left surprised by the physicality of facing North End.
The Reds are in FA Cup action against Nottingham Forest today having already won the Carabao Cup against Chelsea.
On their way to winning that Carabao Cup trophy, Liverpool had to see off Preston with a 2-0 victory at Deepdale.
Jurgen Klopp decided to blood some young players in that game with winger Blair making a first Liverpool start.
The former Manchester United talent played 55 minutes against Preston but was substituted having failed to get into the game.
There are high hopes for the 18-year-old at Anfield and that experience against Preston was a real learning curve.
Speaking to Liverpool’s official website, Blair has admitted that he thought he was being fouled constantly by Preston players.
Yet whilst Blair was used to getting free kicks in youth football, he wasn’t getting anything against Preston.
Blair seemingly couldn’t believe the physicality that comes with playing against Preston; that night, Blair played on the right flank, meaning he came up against Andrew Hughes and Greg Cunningham.
Both players are hardened Championship players and Blair was taken aback by the ‘crazy’ difference in playing against that calibre of player.
“The difference is crazy,” said Blair. “In U18s football, I get pushed over and it’s a foul. I was getting pushed over and, even though some of them were questionable and maybe should have been fouls, I wasn’t getting any fouls,” he added.
Preston’s disciplinary record does suggest there is a certain edge to facing North End whether under Frankie McAvoy or Ryan Lowe.
Preston sit eighth in the Championship disciplinary table having picked up 73 yellow cards and three reds this season.
In terms of fouls, Preston are fourth with a huge 446. Only Cardiff City, Luton Town and Birmingham City have registered more.
It may sound like Blair is just being a little harsh about Preston, but there may be some merit to what he says about North End’s aggression.