Jay Spearing: Liverpool's XI from his last match in 2012 shows club's progress

Nine years after he first left Anfield, Jay Spearing has made a shock return to Liverpool.

A graduate of the club’s youth academy, midfielder Spearing first joined the Reds at the age of 10. Eventually breaking into the senior side, he went on to make 55 appearances for the first-team, including a start in the 2012 FA Cup final.

Spearing would depart for Bolton the following year, before going on to represent Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool and Tranmere Rovers.

The 33-year-old’s time at Prenton Park came to an end earlier this summer, but he’s quickly found a new role as a full-time coach for the Liverpool U18s side.

As part of a statement confirming Spearing’s second stint at the club, Liverpool revealed that their new coach would be “eligible to play for the U21s to provide experience to the young players.”

However, while the club is certainly familiar to Spearing, the majority of the senior squad won’t be.

Last making a first-team appearance for Liverpool on August 23 2012 during the reign of Brendan Rodgers, Spearing played 67 minutes of a Europa League qualifying play-off tie at Hearts.

It’s no secret that current Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has drastically transformed the club’s fortunes since arriving at Anfield, but you really get a sense of just how far the Reds have come in the last decade when you look at the XI that Spearing was a part of in the final match of his first spell at the club.

The Spanish shot-stopper departed the club after 396 appearances in August 2014.

Spells at Bayern Munich, Napoli, AC Milan and Aston Villa followed. Reina is currently at Lazio.

Robinson’s entire Liverpool career lasted a total of only 11 games.

The former England U21 international now plies his trade in the Championship with