Liverpool midfielder Jay Spearing hopes his burgeoning partnership with captain Steven Gerrard can lead to another trophy.
The academy graduate has started the last two matches alongside the England international at the expense of summer signing Charlie Adam and the pair have dovetailed well. Spearing knows he can learn much from his skipper and hopes to be able to continue to do so.
"Every game I play alongside Stevie G is a massive confidence boost for me," said Spearing, who captained Liverpool to two FA Youth Cups. "With me playing game after game it brings out my personal confidence and I am trying to show what I'm all about."
Gerrard was full of praise for the 23-year-old after last week's Merseyside derby victory and the two were in tandem again for Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final win over Stoke.
And after watching from the bench as the team won the Carling Cup against Cardiff last month he is hoping to put himself in the reckoning for a starting place when the Reds head back to Wembley for the FA Cup semi-final in less than four weeks.
He added: "From a personal point of view it was a bit of a disappointment not playing in the Carling Cup final but it is a team game and we all came through.
"Going to the Carling Cup final with the first team was something I always dreamed of doing and going there and winning that was extra-special. The extra bonus now is for me to be back on the pitch and win something again with Liverpool."
The team's cup runs have masked their indifferent Barclays Premier League form and although Spearing knows trophies are important to the club he knows they have to improve their standing in the table, starting at QPR on Wednesday.
Kenny Dalglish's side are 10 points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal and qualification for the Champions League looks a remote possibility. However, Spearing said it would be unwise to focus purely on the FA Cup.
"We have some momentum in the cup this season and it is something the club needs to be in and around every year," he added. "After winning the Carling Cup we want to get to another final and win some more silverware. But that has got to be put aside as we have a massive game at Loftus Road and we have to pick up points, which is major."
The academy graduate has started the last two matches alongside the England international at the expense of summer signing Charlie Adam and the pair have dovetailed well. Spearing knows he can learn much from his skipper and hopes to be able to continue to do so.
"Every game I play alongside Stevie G is a massive confidence boost for me," said Spearing, who captained Liverpool to two FA Youth Cups. "With me playing game after game it brings out my personal confidence and I am trying to show what I'm all about."
Gerrard was full of praise for the 23-year-old after last week's Merseyside derby victory and the two were in tandem again for Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final win over Stoke.
And after watching from the bench as the team won the Carling Cup against Cardiff last month he is hoping to put himself in the reckoning for a starting place when the Reds head back to Wembley for the FA Cup semi-final in less than four weeks.
He added: "From a personal point of view it was a bit of a disappointment not playing in the Carling Cup final but it is a team game and we all came through.
"Going to the Carling Cup final with the first team was something I always dreamed of doing and going there and winning that was extra-special. The extra bonus now is for me to be back on the pitch and win something again with Liverpool."
The team's cup runs have masked their indifferent Barclays Premier League form and although Spearing knows trophies are important to the club he knows they have to improve their standing in the table, starting at QPR on Wednesday.
Kenny Dalglish's side are 10 points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal and qualification for the Champions League looks a remote possibility. However, Spearing said it would be unwise to focus purely on the FA Cup.
"We have some momentum in the cup this season and it is something the club needs to be in and around every year," he added. "After winning the Carling Cup we want to get to another final and win some more silverware. But that has got to be put aside as we have a massive game at Loftus Road and we have to pick up points, which is major."
