After another spell on the sidelines, Liverpool midfielder/defender Lucas Leiva made his come back from injury this week, and the Brazilian has made it clear to Reds boss Jurgen Klopp that he wants to feature in competitive games ASAP.
Lucas made his comeback in a Melwood training match against Huddersfield (which Liverpool lost 2-1), and when asked about his recovery, he told the club's official website:
"I’m 100 per cent [fit]. I was only out for three-and-a-half weeks...and was on the bench [at Tottenham]. I’m ready to go. Now, with the international break I have another two weeks to train and I feel very fit. I’m ready to play 90 minutes".
Lucas makes some compelling points here, and he's clearly sending a message to Klopp: I'm fit, and ready to play, so play me'.
In my view, Klopp has no excuse to keep Lucas on the bench for Leicester:
* Emre Can picked up his second injury of the season on international duty, so he's not going to be 100% fit. Plus, he's lacking game time this season, whereas Lucas just completed 90 minutes against Huddersfield.
* Liverpool have no dedicated, experienced DM available, and if the first four games of the season have proven anything, it's that the defence continues to be vulnerable due to inadequate protection from midfield.
* Wijnaldum and Henderson are not DMs, and their individual games are being restricted as a result of having to cover the DM's responsibilities.
Unfortunately, Klopp is irretrievably stubborn, so I fully expect him to ignore Lucas's qualities as a DM, and play him as a makeshift centre-back (or even at full-back!)
^ Jul 2016: Reportedly on £80k-a-week. Described by Jamie Carragher as a 'vital' player for LFC.
Lucas made his comeback in a Melwood training match against Huddersfield (which Liverpool lost 2-1), and when asked about his recovery, he told the club's official website:
"I’m 100 per cent [fit]. I was only out for three-and-a-half weeks...and was on the bench [at Tottenham]. I’m ready to go. Now, with the international break I have another two weeks to train and I feel very fit. I’m ready to play 90 minutes".
Lucas makes some compelling points here, and he's clearly sending a message to Klopp: I'm fit, and ready to play, so play me'.
In my view, Klopp has no excuse to keep Lucas on the bench for Leicester:
* Emre Can picked up his second injury of the season on international duty, so he's not going to be 100% fit. Plus, he's lacking game time this season, whereas Lucas just completed 90 minutes against Huddersfield.
* Liverpool have no dedicated, experienced DM available, and if the first four games of the season have proven anything, it's that the defence continues to be vulnerable due to inadequate protection from midfield.
* Wijnaldum and Henderson are not DMs, and their individual games are being restricted as a result of having to cover the DM's responsibilities.
Unfortunately, Klopp is irretrievably stubborn, so I fully expect him to ignore Lucas's qualities as a DM, and play him as a makeshift centre-back (or even at full-back!)
^ Jul 2016: Reportedly on £80k-a-week. Described by Jamie Carragher as a 'vital' player for LFC.
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