Spearing: Size never an issue
They say size matters, but Jay Spearing isn't short of role models who'll argue to the contrary.
At five feet six, the midfielder is the same height as Carlos Tevez, and just half an inch nearer to the ground than the world's best player, Lionel Messi.
In fact, on the Barclays Premier League short list, he comes in at a relatively lofty joint fourth behind Shaun Wright-Phillips, Nathan Dyer and Aaron Lennon.
The difference for Spearing is that he occupies a central role on the field in what is arguably the most physical league in world football.
Anyone who has seen him perform this season, however, will recognise that he hasn't been fazed. Anyone who hasn't should check out the highlights from our October trip to Stoke in the Carling Cup.
For the man himself, there was never any fear that size would matter when it came to proving himself at the highest level.
"A lot of people have talked about that for a long time, the size difference in the middle of the park," Spearing told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"But I've never been scared to get into a tussle with anyone. I always love a tackle, so as long as I show people I can play football then it's no problem, whatever size I am.
"It's never been an issue for me, I've never really thought about it. All I think about is the football side, and hopefully I'm proving to people that the football side is there."
While Spearing took his initial steps into senior football when Rafael Benitez occupied the manager's office at Melwood, Kenny Dalglish is the first gaffer to entrust in him a regular Premier League role.
"I'm massively grateful to him," said Spearing. "When Rafa was here he gave me the odd game, and when Roy Hodgson came in he gave me a lot of European games, which allowed me to play different types of football.
"But Kenny has given me a lot of confidence by playing me in the Premier League and in cup games.
"Knowing a manager has that backing for you, it gives you a personal belief, and hopefully it's showing in the games.
"I've got to repay him. Even in training I try to prove myself every day. I've got to try and get better and better. And it's not just him - I want to impress the players around me so they know I'm capable of playing alongside them."
Having been selected by Dalglish to hold the midfield against teams like Everton, Arsenal and Tottenham last season, Spearing was an interested observer during a summer transfer window in which Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson arrived at the club.
His response upon reporting back for training in July was exactly what you would expect from a local player now in his 15th year at the club.
"This club is a worldwide club, we've got the money to buy players and a lot of players would love to play here," he said.
"We bought a lot of midfield players in the summer and it was something I kept an eye on.
"But it didn't stop me believing. It gave me the fight to come in and say, 'I've got to prove I can play alongside or before these lads.'"
Despite the increased competition for midfield places, Spearing his been involved 12 times during 2011-12, enough to keep his friendly rivalry with Martin Kelly about total appearances for the club interesting.
"I think it's 39-40, isn't it?" said the Wirral-born midfielder.
"It's been going on for quite a while now. Every time one or the other of us is playing we've been keeping an eye on how many games we're on.
"I sat out the Manchester United game and he got one ahead of me. I was excited for him playing but a bit gutted as well. When we played against Tottenham we laughed and joked that I was still one behind, but hopefully I'll catch up soon.
"After the teamsheets are read out, the first thing we say is about that and if one of us is in and the other is not, we're happy!"
Spearing might have been double digits ahead of Kelly but for two enforced lay-offs during periods of his career when it seemed his time had come.
Last season he cracked a bone in his fibula just as he appeared set to deputise for the injured Steven Gerrard, and this term the opportunity to replace Lucas Leiva has been stifled first by suspension following a red card at Craven Cottage, and then by a hamstring injury which occurred during a fixture-heavy January.
"It was the same story," Spearing said. "I got the sending off, which happens in football, but it was a massive learning curve for me that I need to be a bit more careful in the tackles.
"I came back and got injured, which I was gutted about, but I've come fighting back as quickly as possible and hopefully I can keep myself in the side now until the end of the season."
Recent spells on the sidelines have at least been made bearable by the presence of his first child, four-month old Freya.
Spearing is still referred to as a youngster himself in some quarters, but the experience of becoming a father has matured him both on and off the pitch, he claims.
"It's brilliant. I wouldn't change it for the world," he said. "You've got to get involved, haven't you? It was quite tough at first but I'm getting used to it.
"Thanks to the missus she is in a great sleeping routine, so I'm back to sleeping normally.
"It's something I'm relishing and loving every minute of. It's made me grow up as a person.
"It changes you massively. It puts everything in perspective. Your life changes on the day they're born. I've got to look after a living thing!
"Of course you think about things differently in football too. The effort you put into games - if I don't play well I'm not going to play the week after, and I want to play every week for her and the family. I want her to grow up and have the life she deserves."
Spearing is still waiting for his first senior goal for Liverpool, so might we see one of the standard baby celebrations if he does trouble the net?
"The normal ones are the thumb and the rocking," he said. "But she's four-months-old, so they might be out of the window by the time I score!"