Reading striker Simon Church wants to dump Liverpool out of the FA Cup - partly because he's a Manchester United fan!

Church, who turned 21 last month, was obsessed with Eric Cantona as a boy - and will never forget the way the Manchester United talisman tormented the Merseysiders at Anfield.

Church scored the goal that earned the struggling Royals a draw in their third-round clash with the Reds - and can't wait for the second meeting on Wednesday.

He said: "I was Manchester United crazy when I was a kid.

"I was obsessed with Cantona. I had pictures of him on my wall and in the playground I would wear a shirt with his name on my back. I even turned my collar up to be like Eric.

"He helped United as they replaced Liverpool as the dominant team in England, so he is my inspiration.

"Now Reading is my life. I have always dreamed of playing in front of the Kop and scoring. We want to go up there and knock them out of the Cup."

Church, who was born in High Wycombe and is a product of Reading's academy system, is in his first full season at the club after loan spells at Crewe, Yeovil Town, Wycombe and Leyton Orient.

"I've just signed a new contract for three years," he said. "Although we're struggling, we don't deserve to be where we are in the league.

"We got a lot of confidence out of our first game with Liverpool. We played really well and created a lot of chances. In these kind of games form doesn't come into it.

"And, as Leeds showed at United, a lower-league team can win at one of the big teams' grounds. It inspires me that I'll be playing in front of the Kop. It's where I want to be throughout my career."