Liverpool player-coach Jay Spearing has spent part of Christmas in hospital after being diagnosed with Addison's disease.

The 34-year-old, who now works as a coach for the Merseyside club, was told to "urgently" attend hospital to avoid his body shutting down.

This came after he had blood tests conducted on December 24.

After further investigating, doctors worked out it was Addison's disease - an uncommon illness which is the result of someone's body failing to produce enough of certain hormones.

It can cause fatigue, muscle weakness, low mood, loss of appetite and unintentional weight loss.

Addison's disease is most common between the ages of 30 and 50, with women more susceptible to the adrenal insufficiency.

Spearing said, "It has taken me a minute to get my head around it but I am thankful that now it's been diagnosed it can be controlled and managed through hormone replacement treatment and it's not something that I will allow to affect or dictate my life."