Football - Liverpool FC: It’s less stressful playing for Brazil than Liverpool FC right now, says Lucas Leiva

Nov 13 2009 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Football - Liverpool FC: LUCAS LEIVA admits the pressure of playing for Liverpool at present is worse than that turning out for Brazil.

Lucas, who is in Qatar preparing for his country’s showpiece friendly against England tomorrow, has been one of Liverpool’s most impressive performers during a troubled start to the campaign.

Monday’s 2-2 home draw with Birmingham City means Rafael Benitez’s side have won just one of their last nine games, a spell during which they have been knocked out of the Carling Cup and stand on the brink of Champions League elimination.

And with the beleaguered Benitez having to deal with his team’s poor form and an ever-growing injury list, that tension is being felt on the pitch by the available players.

“Right now the pressure of playing for Liverpool is worse than for Brazil,” said Lucas. “In Brazil we have already qualified and we will of course have pressure in playing a big team like England, but at Liverpool now it is worse.

“We are in a difficult situation right now. We have to fight to qualify for the Champions League and the Premier League too. First of all we have to get into the top four.”

Lucas added: “At Liverpool we are playing well, maybe we need something more but anyway I hope we will turn the bad situation around.

“Against Lyon, United and even the last game against Birmingham we played well but we conceded some goals. They came from our mistakes.

“We have to keep going and keep working and hopefully the international break has come at a good time for us. Some players are injured so hopefully they will be okay and be fit for the next game.”

However, most of the injury news eminating from Melwood yesterday was negative, with Benitez confirming both Albert Riera and Yossi Benayoun could be sidelined for up to a month.

And there was been a further blow after it emerged Fabio Aurelio has been cut from the Brazil squad because of his calf injury.

Riera and Benayoun suffered torn hamstrings on Monday, with Benitez fearing Riera may face a longer spell out after aggravating a previous injury.

And Benitez admits to keeping his fingers crossed over the fitness of Glen Johnson who, after missing three games with groin and calf problems, then suffered a hamstring injury while training with England earlier this week.

“Both Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera have muscle problems and will be out for three to four weeks,” said the Spaniard. “It depends on each player, but for Riera this is the second time with this injury.

“We will have to wait and see how they progress but hopefully in three weeks they could be available. Both players are wingers and for them to be out at the same time is bad news for us.

“Glen Johnson’s was a strange situation because he finished the game on Monday and then travelled to London to be with England.

“He felt something in his hamstring and came back to us for a scan. Hopefully it’s not too serious and he could be available again in a week.”

Denmark centre-back Daniel Agger also withdrew from international duty, but Liverpool are hopeful his back injury will have cleared up in time for the visit of Manchester City on Saturday week.

And Fernando Torres is expected to resume running shortly as he recovers from an ongoing groin complaint.

“With Fernando Torres we are talking about two or three weeks of treatment and working with the physios,” said Benitez. “I was talking with him this morning and he is doing well. Hopefully he can be running in a few days and we will see how he progresses.”

Meanwhile, Daniel Ayala has signed an extension to his current Liverpool contract that will keep him at Anfield until 2012.

The 19-year-old centre-back made his senior debut as a substitute on the opening day of the season away to Tottenham Hotspur, and has since chalked up two further appearances.

Liverpool’s reserve fixture at Wigan Athletic has been put back a day and will now take place on Wednesday, November 25 with a 7.30pm kick-off.