Past playersJay Spearing

An FA Youth Cup winner with the Reds, he came on as a substitute in a Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven on December 9, 2008 to make his senior debut.

What Spearing lacked in height, he made up in hunger and energy. And those attributes prompted the Kop to sing his name for the first time during an electric cameo as Real Madrid were dispatched 4-0 in March 2009.

The 2009-10 campaign brought a long-awaited first start in the Premier League, against Sunderland. Spearing then joined Championship side Leicester City on loan for the final two months of the season, scoring one goal in nine appearances.

The experience gained in the Football League proved critical in 2010-11, when he played regularly for Liverpool's senior side under both Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish. Injuries to the likes of Steven Gerrard ensured 'Speo' got 20 chances to impress - and he proved himself more than worthy of the shirt.

It was a similar story in 2011-12 when injuries again handed him plenty of opportunities, and his performances during 25 outings played a big part in Liverpool lifting the League Cup and reaching the FA Cup final.

However, with new manager Brendan Rodgers bringing in several midfielders in the summer of 2012, it was agreed that Spearing would spend the season away from Anfield at Championship side Bolton Wanderers.

He impressed enough at the Reebok Stadium to earn the club's Player of the Season honour and sealed a permanent switch to the Trotters in August 2013.