John Aldridge: Liverpool FC’s Lucas Leiva has proved me wrong

Nov 29 2011 by John Aldridge, Liverpool Echo

LUCAS had his best game in a Liverpool shirt against Man City – the Brazilian was phenomenal. I never thought he would make it at Anfield but he has proved me wrong and I’m delighted about that.

In his first season with us he was awful and I didn’t even see shades of a player. But since then he has blossomed. Rafa Benitez bought him and showed a lot of faith in him. Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish kept playing him.

Lucas has rolled his sleeves up and silenced his critics. In the absence of Steven Gerrard, he has raised his game to help make up for the loss of the skipper.

Defensively, he was excellent on Sunday. He was up against one of the best midfielders in the country in Yaya Toure but his quality shone through.

People have questioned whether Charlie Adam and Lucas can play together. But they have shown in the big games that they are well equipped to work as a partnership.