Source: Team_Talk
Jay: Confidence has been boosted
Midfielder Jay Spearing believes the goalless Europa League draw against Napoli could be a springboard for their domestic form to improve.[LNB] Manager Roy Hodgson took a weakened squad to Naples, choosing to rest Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Raul Meireles and Lucas Leiva ahead of Sunday's visit of Blackburn in the Premier League.[LNB]The Reds boss freely admitted this week his priority has to be improving their miserable record this season which has seen them win just once in eight matches and slump to 19th in the table.[LNB]And Spearing, who has to make the most of his outings in the Europa League as he is down the midfield pecking order when it comes to the Premier League, is confident the whole squad will have received a boost from the result in Italy - especially as most people were predicting a defeat.[LNB]"It's a hostile place to play but we showed what we're capable of doing and it was a good point away from home," he said.[LNB]"Results haven't been going our way, but this can be the start and we can go into Sunday's game looking for three points at home."[LNB]Spearing was one of a number of youthful members of the side, which included 18-year-old Jonjo Shelvey and 20-year-old Martin Kelly.[LNB]"It's massive confidence boost straight away when the boss is going to play you in such a hostile place," said the 21-year-old former youth team captain.[LNB]"It shows we can play under pressure in these types of games and that the boss has confidence in us."[LNB]Experience midfielder Christian Poulsen was impressed by the performances of Shelvey, Spearing, Kelly and David Ngog who, although the club's leading scorer this season, is still only 21.[LNB]"Our young players battled well and you couldn't tell there was a lot of inexperience out there," said the 30-year-old.[LNB]"I think they had a really good game and it shows we have a strong squad at Liverpool."
