Spearing: Duo help youngsters

Jay Spearing has spoken of the huge influence Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher have had on the careers of several youngsters at Melwood - although he hopes the captain won't take his place in the team when he's fully fit again.

Spearing is one of a clutch of young Englishmen who have made real strides in the first team this season, with the dynamic midfielder becoming a regular in Kenny Dalglish's side in recent weeks.

Speaking in this week's LFC Weekly, the 22-year-old says his development is in no small part down to the guidance of Gerrard and Carragher.

"They've helped all of us from the moment we came up to Melwood, never mind getting in the team," said Spearing. "As a defender Carra's particularly helped Flanno (John Flanagan), Jack (Robinson) and Kels (Martin Kelly), and as for myself and Jonjo Shelvey, Stevie's been there right from day one.

"He expresses what he thinks we need to improve on and we owe a lot to him for that help. I don't think you could ask for a better person to learn from than him.

"I'm just taking every day and every game as it comes. I can't be looking forward without knowing that Stevie is going to be coming back into the team as he's one of the world's greatest midfielders. But at the moment I've got to keep doing as well as I can and hopefully when he does come back, it won't be my place he takes."

The Reds are currently on an impressive run of form that has lifted them into fifth place in the table. The results under Dalglish have given fans a shot of optimism as they look forward to next season but Spearing isn't looking any further than the next few games.

"We can see a good buzz about the rest of the season and also next year but first and foremost we all need to concentrate on what we've got coming up over the next few weeks," he said. 

"There's no point having that excitement about next season without finishing this year well. That starts each day with every training session we have as we want to keep that momentum going.

"We know that if we keep doing the things that we have been, we will finish on a high. And if we can do that there is no reason why the fans and ourselves can't look forward to competing again next year. We need to keep the commitment and desire that we've got going and then we can hit the ground running next year as well."

The full Spearing interview, plus special features marking the 25^th anniversary of the 1986 league title triumph, including rare and brilliant photos, is in this week's LFC Weekly.