Video: Preston v Liverpool skills showdown ahead of FA Cup clash

Father-of-five Richard, who runs a Toxteth community group to keep young people out of trouble, said he was sure Liverpool would run away with the game, predicting a 5-1 victory.

But lifelong Preston fan John, 22, who is the current World Freestyle champion, said he was certain Preston could provide a famous upset win.

Banter aside, the pair performed the tricks and skills that have seen them appear on Nike adverts and perform across America, Europe and the Middle East.

Richard, 38, started freestyling almost two years ago, and now runs Integration by Sport, where he teaches ball skills to bring together Toxteth's mixed community.

He said: "I started Silky Skills in 2003, which John Barnes launched. It's about bringing young people together through sport and getting them off the streets. My career has taken me from Toxteth to South Korea where I met Mr Woo, the legend of ball skills.

"I'm very different to Richard because I use three or four balls in my performance but I admire his skills, his round-the-world record is something every young person wants to learn."

John, who has the current record of 86 round-the-world ball circuits in a minute, started learning his skills five years ago.

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He said: "I saw an advert on television with Mr Woo practising and I thought I wanted to do that.

"And, for the past two years, I have made it my profession; it's a challenge and a great way of expressing myself, it's become my life.

"I would like to follow Richard and teach young people so I plan to open up new academies across the country to teach ball skills, combining the art of performance with sport."

Richard added: "Our rivalry is friendly here but it will be heated out on the pitch at the weekend.

"The rivalry will be strong, Preston are a lower league side but the fact Alan Irvine left Everton for Preston will urge the Liverpool fans on even more."

Liverpool start their FA Cup bid at Deepdale on Saturday, after last season surviving scares against Luton Town and Havant and Waterlooville before going out at home to Barnsley.

Laura Sharpe