Forgotten Liverpool man sent-off for Under-21s as player-coach | Football

Jay Spearing was given his marching orders while playing for Liverpool Under-21s against Reading on Sunday, turning out for the team as a player-coach.

The 35-year-old came through the youth ranks at Liverpool, making his first team debut for the Reds in December 2008.

The midfielder went on to make 55 first team appearances for his boyhood club, but would move on to Bolton Wanderers and later Blackpool and Tranmere.

In 2022 he returned to Anfield to work as a coach for the Under-18s side, but has also been registered as a player and has regularly turned out for the Under-21 team.

He did so again on SUnday against Reading and was dismissed in dramatic circumstances as he handled the ball to stop a shot crossing the line in the last minute of the game.

Spearing was given a straight red card and Reading handed a penalty, but Reds goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek became the hero as he saved the spot-kick.

The game finished goalless as a result of the missed penalty.

Barry Lewtas is the Liverpool Under-21 boss and he praised the influence of Spearing on his side earlier in the season.

‘Jay is massively important for us,’ he said. ‘We are a really young group this year and when you’ve got Jay playing in front of two very young centre-backs in Carter Pinnington and Amara Nallo, he is there to support them. He also supports Trey Nyoni when James McConnell is with the first team, so his support is invaluable.

‘He can have a massive effect on the players off the pitch but on the pitch it is very evident he supports these players, in terms of not just being encouraging but also demanding of them as well.

‘Jay is brilliant and taking the player-coach role apart he was fantastic against Chelsea and made a big difference. That is so good for the other boys to see and I also thought Jay supported Tommy Pilling really well in the game. Tommy grew in confidence with Jay alongside him.’