How Liverpool Have Missed Lucas

Lucas has been out with a knee injury since early December,
and will miss the rest of the season.

Lucas Leiva's recent knee injury and resultant absence from the first team has shown how much of a key player he has become for this current Liverpool side. Many fans of the club looked on in worry as the player collided unfortunately with Juan Mata, and after attempting to play on was eventually stretchered from the pitch to a round of boos from the Chelsea fans, and apprehensive looking applause from the travelling Liverpool support.

It's a testament to the player's rise through the ranks at Liverpool that his absence has had such an effect on the team. Whilst many Liverpool fans knew the effect his season ending injury would have on the rest of their season, it might have been more pronounced than they thought, as the team appear to have struggled for any consistency in the midfield positions.

Charlie Adam's form has notably dropped since not having Lucas to partner him in transitional phases where the team attempt to build attacks from the back, and maybe more importantly in situations where the midfield are looking to win the ball back. The Scot has often found himself struggling in some middle ground between a deep lying midfield play maker, and a more attacking midfield role, which ends up with him playing as a half hearted box to box midfielder without the physical attributes to do so. The result of this seems to be the concession of unnecessary free kicks when defending, and less effective probing passes going forward. Here you begin to see where the physical attributes and tackling ability of Lucas have been helping other players do what they do best.

Jay Spearing is the natural replacement in Lucas's position, but his time in the team has been disrupted by the odd knock and an unfortunate suspension. If Lucas can pass on some of the experiences he went through during his struggle to gain a first team role, then the club will have a couple of solid players in this position for years to come.

The lack of consistency in the deeper midfield positions has recently seen Steven Gerrard take up the role, and it's one of many roles he can perform to the highest level. Though it is evident that Gerrard is a top performer in most positions, Liverpool would prefer to use him in a more attacking forward running role to help make the difference in the final third. Again, Lucas' presence in the side would accommodate this possibility.

This transformation - from being a player who many fans thought was just another dud Benitez signing, to his assumption of a pivotal role in the side - is one of the success stories of the modern Liverpool team, and one of the rare examples of a Brazilian wonderkid successfully adapting to the English game. It took a fair few seasons, and a certain amount of patience from coaches, players, and fans - who recognised his physical and mental commitment to the team even during difficult times.

Now he's found his role in the team, and found the form everyone thought he was capable of, it's unfortunate that injury has hampered his progress. But hopefully Lucas can return for a 2012/13 campaign which will build on the recent successes for both the player and the club.