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“He is our captain and he is also a great guy and he has helped me ever since I came to the club and moved to this area. Everyone at Liverpool is behind him.”

Meanwhile, reserve team trio Adam Hammill, Craig Lindfield and Godwin Antwi have returned to Melwood after their respective loan spells at Blackpool, Bournemouth and Tranmere Rovers came to an end.

Goalkeeper David Martin has extended his loan spell with Leicester City until the end of the season, while midfielder Ryan Flynn will continue his loan spell with Wrexham for a second month.

However, Liverpool have agreed to sell teenage striker Marvin Pourie to Schalke. The 17-year-old moved to the Academy from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2007 but has not made the expected breakthrough.

Liverpool’s scheduled reserve match against Sunderland last night was postponed due to a frozen pitch at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington.