4) Bringing Lucas back in from the cold…
Rumours were rife that the long-serving Brazilian was surplus to Anfield requirements early on this season, with Serie A clubs Napoli and Inter Milan credited with strong interest. In truth, not many Liverpool fans kicked up much of a fuss at the time, but having watched Lucas play such an instrumental role in our season revival, they certainly would now.
Steven Gerrard was struggling badly in the anchorman role, and Rodgers rightly moved him from the position in place of his 28-year-old teammate. Lucas is far more disciplined, and puts in a huge amount of defensive work at the base of midfield – using tackles and interceptions to create a platform from which the more technically creative players can perform.
He’s sadly injured now, but all season, Liverpool have lost two matches where Lucas has started – versus Real Madrid and Chelsea. His importance is vital.
