I have to admit that Lucas Leiva, under Benitez and Hodgson, was not my first preference in the midfield – nor the second through 6th.
He seemed like a large puppy loping around the field and getting into his own players’ way as much as his opponents’. Much like Joe Allen with Brendan Rodgers, I thought he was manager’s pet and got more first team time than he deserved.
All that changed when he became Liverpool’s Man of the Season in 2010/11. His ability to read opposition attacks and his incisive passes into the attacking zone showed that he had arrived and would be an asset to Liverpool for years to come.
Although he has been slow to recover from the shattering injury he received in a collision during a game against Chelsea, his late season form in 12/13 showed promise, and a solid pre-season this summer had Liverpool fans hoping to see the Lucas of old.
This past weekend’s performance at Stoke went a long way to showing us that the recovery time paid off (as well as the fact that we have physio staff that would never have shortened the top flight careers of Robbie Fowler and Harry Kewell). Lucas was every bit the model holding midfielder that he has shown himself to be in the past.
Throughout the game against the Potters, whenever a Stoke assault was about to materialize, Lucas was stationed at the strategic point of the attack, either stripping the ball from his opponent or restricting his movements until the rest of the Reds could move into their defensive positions. And it happened time and time again.
He won 6 of his 6 tackles on the ground and 3 of 5 challenges in the air; when one considers the size and physicality of the Stoke City players and the fact that Lucas is a mere 5’ 10”, this seems all the more impressive.
His run in with Steven N’Zonzi was very telling as well. With N’Zonzi starting handbags with the diminutive Coutinho, Lucas waded into the fray to support his teammate. This backed off the French giant who was so irritated at the intercession that he swatted Lucas on the head – an action which could easily have sent him to the dressing room with a red card.
In the same way that he never backs away from a challenge on the field, he never backs down from an opposing player. It is the kind of play which, hopefully, takes him back to the Brazilian national squad as a key midfielder.
Lucas was my Liverpool Man of the Match against Potters. Like many supporters, I appreciated the movement and inventiveness of Coutinho and the absolutely pivotal saves of Simon Mignolet on the penalty and rebound but for me it was the intelligence and skill of Lucas that allowed the free flow of the front men and eased the burden on the defenders.
On a day when there was no weak spot on the team, when every man played his best, it is difficult to single out one specific player as contributing the most. Coutinho’s continued inspired play, the leadership of the captain, the work rate of Hendo, the fine debut performances of Kolo Toure and Iago Aspas, the efficiency of Sturridge, etc., weaved through the team and united them into a cohesive unit that will be a force this campaign.
Finally, although Lucas’ impact on the game made him my Man of the Match, when it comes to impact on the season, I believe that the Mignolet saves that allowed Liverpool to win their first opening game in six seasons speaks well for the team’s future.
Perhaps the dismal luck that this team has experienced over the years will become a thing of the past and the team will regain their all-important aura of spirit and invincibility. Had it not been for the combined play of the entire side, it could have all gone wrong.
When seen in that light, Lucas’ clearance of a sure goal is just another illustration of his pivotal role in this year’s side and a sign that the last minutes of a game won’t lead to Liverpool’s downfall like it has so often in the last few seasons.
At the top levels of any sport, the difference between the top and middle of the road teams is often a matter of belief. This is the season to stop being the unluckiest side in the Premiership; it is time to relegate those ghosts of outstanding opposition keepers, questionable red cards, and recurring erosion of the woodwork to our ‘troubled’ period and usher in a season of lucky bounces and miraculous comebacks.
Then leave the rest to stalwarts like Gerrard and Lucas to allow that ‘luck’ to happen.
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Fitz, you’ve neglected to note his ‘lovely cushioned header’, to Waters in the first half for his volley which was well saved by Mignolet. Yes, he cleared off the line at the end of the first half but if you rewind that sequence of play those successive corners and assaults on out goal came as a result of a free kick for Stoke conceded outside our penalty area my Lucas. A lazy tackle from the wrong side by a player in a bad position. Man of the match?? you’re having a laugh!!!
Lucas has been at Anfield for over 6 years under 4 different managers, it clearly hasn’t worked, he’s had more than enough chances and support, he should have been moved on by now. Would he get into the Manchester teams or Chelsea? We’ve just settled for mediocrity for years. Not aggressive enough for English football.
ship him nd u’ve got less impressive allen to fill his shoe?use your chicken head to think alittle before posting
Brenda chose to waste 15m on Allen, put your brain into first gear and think first before typing. Oh and learn to write as you seem to have a mental age of 12.
if you are footballer you will know that lucas is the liverpool best player. Honestly if liverpool can keep lucas free from injury top four gaurantee.
You will be waiting a long long time to see Lucas pick up title winning medals mate. One word for you – deluded.
Ha ha Liverpool 1st in league 5 points clear and 3 matches from winning it.-deluded
lucas is good? yes. Do i like him? yes. Is he the best we can get? NO!. is he doing a wonderful job in his role? NO! but he is trying. its obvious that he is only in the first team because we no longer have those mascherano types of players around and have decided to settle for average. esp since “the coach feels he can use the support of certain players to keep his job”. rodgers has no plans for a HM and as much as i hate to imagine it, i have feeling it would hunt us when the time comes. lucas is giving his best but his best is simply not good enough if we really want to get back to where we belong. YNWA
Who do u thnk is beta than him in the epl?
It will be a long time for him to get back to his former self before his injury . By then the nature of the game had changed. Players are bigger , faster and are more willing to go for those hard tackles. Lucas is small in size and not as fast as before. The only thing is his passing skills are more than decent. I am afraid if he were to come up with a physically strong player Lucas would lose out.
Its simply unfair 2 say Lucas ain’t gud enough 4 d top teams as far as am concern d guy s gud enough 2 play 4 any top team in Europe. Wit Lucas fit,diz team is gona b d suprise of d season. YNWA
Deluded idiot, Lucas wont get within a mile of Chelsea or Man City or Man U teams. So why is he good enough for our first team. Other clubs aren’t making 25-35m bids for him. Cant you see how mediocre the guy is.
Ei ediot, wat analysis did u do to prove lucas is unworthy. Amomg the top six teams in the epl, name the best 3 that re better than him. He was even the best tacker in the epl last two season when he just played half season. I need ur proof nw to be convinced. Lucas the best dmf u can ever get in the epl. YWNWA
LOL, Lucas the best attacker in the Prem! Do you even watch football? Hes not even the best attacker on Merseyside you mug.
judging buy most of the comments on here. it looks like the sunshine bus has free wifi.
the leader of the bus has to be FSG out. where did smart say attacker? i read tacker(tackler). are you tommy in disguise.
before lucas got his knee injury he was considered as the best holding mid in the prem.
funny how liverpool had the best defence in the prem up to that point, injury hit lucas and we end up 3 or 4 best. explain that one.
LUCAS IS A PLAYER TO THE CORE. WITH HIS EFFICIENCY WE CAN CONTEND FOR LEAGUE TITLE THIS SEASON.
No sheep: so before Lucas injury he was blah blah blah!!
Yeah right, all the heavyweight giants were all lining up to sign him right?! Another brainwashed fool.
Liverpool’s Man of the Season in 2010/11 is hardly “blah blah blah”. Let me guess: you hated/hate Brendan Rodgers, Henderson, Downing, Lucas (of course), Joe Allen, and any player who is down in form. Negativity and vilification are not going to get the team anywhere but it could lead to health problems. Ease up. Look for the positive. Be encouraging, and you will live a much more rewarding life. 🙂
Are you blind, Lucas has been involved over 6 years and hasnt progressed the team, 7th, 8th and 7th place positions prove that. Wake up and smell the coffee. People like you just think youre a ‘better fan’ for defending these under achieving players. Grow a pair you mug!
Lucas was absolutely pivotal when we came 2nd, so whats your point? If you look at the seasons prior to his injury he made the most tackles and interceptions in the entire league.
Clearly, you’re just a child spouting *. I agree that FSG need to go, and I think we need another holding midfielder in the Wanyama mould if you will, as different opposition require different players and Lucas clearly requires competition for his place, but to simply diss him is folly, pathetic and childish.
I remember a few seasons back when Yaya Toure was steamrollering his way through every midfield in the league. He came up against Lucas, and Lucas had him in his pocket for the full 90 minutes. We need that Lucas back this season!
YNWA
(FSG out)out
Don’t ever remember anyone putting a bid in for messi,scholes,carra,Terry,xavi, puyol,inesta or raul(when at his best). Were any of these guys ever considered the best in there league at what they do?
Question for you. Why does having an extremely defiencive minded midfield player, allow you to have an extra player in attack?
Answer that one tommy(fsg out).
Doh! Those players were at clubs winning regular trophies and getting huge salaries. Look at Arsenal selling Song, Petit to Barca, much sought after players. Lucas however was never ever in that bracket. Get over it and move on. Ya mug.
So I should move on and accept your stupid posts cause you can’t back them up. I see you completely skipped the question I asked you. Wonder why? Could you not find the answer on google or something?
So petit didn’t win anything with arsenal?
Raul was at real even when they were crap and not winning anything. So cause no one went in for him. One of the best strikers Europe has ever produced is crap.
Are you a manc trying to stur it up on here?
Nobody wanted Lucas because he is Krap. Accept the facts if youre pea brain can handle it.
That answers a lot of questions for me. Thanks. 😉
Lucas is a trier , he does ok for me . He is certainly waaaay better than that useless shrimp Allen . So for the moment yes im happy with him
You can get a fat middle aged bloke off the Kop who is a trier!!
If Lucas was at Everton you guys would have been ripping the p!ss out of him for years but you have a sense of blind loyalty to him because he plays for us. If you cannot be objective then thats up to you. Lucas would never have been a big player for us, he will retire and no-one will remember any significant contribution from this wimpish loser! Get your heads out of your backsides!!