While an under-fire Gerard Houllier will be hoping current England duo Steven Gerrard and Danny Murphy will master their former colleague in the midfield battle, he is only too happy to se his former player back at Anfield in full flight.
Houllier said: "I am really pleased that Jamie is back and I look forward to seeing him again tomorrow.
"I like the player and I like the man. He was unlucky with injuries here because he has even admitted himself that had he been fully fit then he would have progressed and improved as a player along with the rest of the squad.
"In the end he needed a new challenge and he is getting that at Tottenham. I am glad to see he is the captain because it shows we did the right thing in making him captain when he was with us."