The Academy: Mid-field

First Name	Jay
Surname	Spearing
Squad Number	20
Position	Central Midfield
Height	1.68m
Weight	70 kg
D.O.B.	25 Nov 1988
Town of Birth	Wirral
Country of Birth	England
Nationality	English
Total Appearances	52
Total Goals	0

Jay Spearing is a local midfielder and valuable member of the squad.

The youngster graduated to Melwood in 2007 after lifting our second successive FA Youth Cup - the highlight of his near-decade at the Academy.

A broken leg meant Spearing missed most of the previous campaign, though he did feature as a late substitute when the young Reds beat Man City in the final.

In May 2007, the tenacious midfielder was voted best player at the Torneo di Renate after a Liverpool U20s side competed against the likes of AC Milan and Parma.

He then played a crucial role as Gary Ablett's second string clinched the FA Premier Reserve League title in 2007-08.

Spearing, who was seen as a defender during his rise through the ranks, came on as a substitute in a Champions League clash with PSV on December 9, 2008 to make his senior debut.

What the Wirral-born youngster lacks in height, he makes up in hunger and energy. These attributes prompted the Kop to sing his name for the first time during an electric cameo as the mighty 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.

This 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 collecting the Carling Cup and reaching the FA Cup final.

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First Name	Raheem
Surname	Sterling
Squad Number	31
D.O.B.	8 Dec 1994
Town of Birth	Kingston, Jamaica
Country of Birth	Jamaica
Nationality	English
Total Appearances	3
Total Goals	0

Raheem Sterling is one of the most talked-about players coming through the LFC youth system.

The talented winger became the club's third youngest player of all-time when he featured as a substitute in a 2-1 defeat to Wigan on March 24, 2012 - aged 17.

Sterling joined from Queens Park Rangers in February 2010 with a reputation for pace and flair.

He made an immediate impact when he scored on his U18s debut in a mini-derby triumph against Everton.

Though it didn't count as a senior debut, he actually played as a substitute for the first team aged 15 in a pre-season defeat at Borussia Moenchengladbach in 2010.

One of the highlights of his fledgling career came during a 9-0 FA Youth Cup thrashing of Southend in early 2011, with Sterling scoring five of the goals.

He has also represented England at youth level and helped his country reach the U17 World Cup quarter-finals in the summer of 2011.

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First Name	Jonjo
Surname	Shelvey
Squad Number	33
Position	Midfield
Height	1.83m
Weight	70 kg
D.O.B.	27 Feb 1992
Town of Birth	Romford
Country of Birth	England
Nationality	English
Total Appearances	37
Total Goals	2

England U21 international Jonjo Shelvey is one of the most promising youngsters on Liverpool's books and is currently on the fringes of the first team.

The midfielder signed from Charlton Athletic for an initial fee of £1.7million in the summer of 2010 amid comparisons to a young Steven Gerrard.

He had spells with Arsenal and West Ham before coming through the ranks at Charlton, where he became their youngest ever player (and later goalscorer) at 16 years and 59 days.

Shelvey scored eight goals during 49 appearances for the Londoners before heading north.

The Romford-born teenager made his Liverpool debut as a late substitute in a disappointing League Cup defeat to lowly Northampton Town on September 22, 2010.

He has represented England at all youth levels, captaining the U17s and U19s. He is now a regular in the U21 squad.

Shelvey scored six goals in 10 appearances during a loan spell at Championship side Blackpool between September and November 2011.

A week after returning to Anfield he made his first Premier League start at Aston Villa, and he scored his first senior goal for Liverpool in a 5-1 FA Cup win over Oldham in January 2012.

In July 2012, Shelvey signed a new long-term deal with Liverpool.

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First Name	Jordon
Surname	Ibe

Jordon Ibe was snapped up by the Academy from Wycombe Wanderers at the end of 2011 and is seen as a great prospect for the future.

The talented youngster, who can play up front, or out on the wing, will be based at the Academy and will begin life at Liverpool with the U18 squad.

The Bermondsey born starlet made his U18s debut against Crewe Alexandra in Mike Marsh's side's first outing of 2012, and it was a winning start as the young Reds won 1-0.

He started his football path at Charlton Athletic, and joined Wycombe Wanderers at the age of 12.

He impressed the Wycombe coaches to such an extent that he was given his first team debut on August 9, 2011 when he was just 15, in the Leage Cup win against Colchester United, entering the  field as an extra-time substitute.

Six days later Ibe became the club's youngest ever Football League player when he appeared as a late substitute in the win over Hartlepool United.

His first start for the club was truly memorable when he netted in a 2-1 defeat against Sheffield Wednesday, and in doing so became the youngest ever Wycombe Wanderers goalscorer in the Football League.

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