Spearing out to catch Hodgson's eye

Jay Spearing insists the prospect of catching Roy Hodgson's eye was a driving factor behind the impressive performance of Liverpool's starlets in the friendly draw with Grasshoppers.

A youthful Reds side, with an average age of just 20, played out a goalless encounter with the Swiss outfit in the new manager's first game on Wednesday following a week of intense training in Bad Ragaz.

Spearing feels the benefits of daily double sessions were evident against Grasshoppers as the young Reds tried to make an early impression.

"When a new manager comes in, every single one of us have got to try and impress and listen to what he's got to say," he said. "That's what we tried to do and hopefully it worked.

"Right from the goalkeepers to the forwards, everybody worked very hard and it showed in the things we did. The lads put in a great effort and I am looking forward to Saturday now."

Spearing skippered the team for the final 30 minutes against Grasshoppers and added: "As a Liverpool lad, it was a dream for me to captain the side and I have to say thanks to Lucas for passing the armband on. Hopefully it won't be the last time."

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