Jay loves playing with Stevie

last month, he is hoping to put himself in the reckoning for a starting place when his side head back to Wembley for the FA Cup semi-final.

Spearing, who captained Liverpool to two FA Youth Cups, said: “Every game I play alongside Stevie G is a massive confidence boost.

Confidence

“With me playing game after game, it brings out my personal confidence and I am trying to show what I’m all about.

“From a personal point of view it was a bit of a disappointment not playing in the Carling Cup final, but it is a team game and we all came through. Going to the Carling Cup final with the first team was something I always dreamed of doing and going there and winning was extra special.

“The extra bonus now is for me to be back on the pitch and winning something again with Liverpool.”

The cup runs have masked indifferent Premier League form and, although Spearing knows that trophies are important, he admits they have to improve.

Kenny Dalglish’s side are well adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal and qualification for the Champions League looks a remote possibility.

But Spearing says it would be unwise to focus purely on the FA Cup. He added: “We have some momentum in the cup this season and it is something the club needs to be in and around every year.

“After winning the Carling Cup we want to get to another final and win some more silverware.

“The confidence it brings to the club, not just the players, is massive and now we’ve had a taste of it we want more.

“The club needs to be playing at Wembley as much as possible.

“But there are big games coming up and we need to pick up as many points as possible to put pressure on teams above us.”