Lucas Leiva appears crucial to the Reds solidity.
Lucas Leiva had a starring role in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa to stretch Brendan Rodgers side’s unbeaten run to 8 games.
Lucas played from the start in his now accustomed defensive midfield position and put in a solid display to keep the Reds sured up in the middle and secure at the back.
SEE MORE:
Ranking Liverpool’s Ten Best January Transfers Of All-Time, Including Former Chelsea Star
Transfer Crazy! 30 Players Tipped By Bookies To Move In January Window, With Possible New Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea & Man United Signings Named
Arsenal Should Sign One Of These Germany Internationals Says Former Liverpool Star
Leiva has been involved in 12 league games so far this season in which Liverpool have managed an impressive 27 points, the Reds put an incredible 2.25 points per game on the board when the Brazilian plays.
But on the flip side of this stat it’s a completely different story when Liverpool are without Leiva, Rodgers side appearing a lot less secure and a lot less likely to win.
In the ten games he hasn’t featured, Brendan Rodgers’ side have managed just a paltry eight points, with their 3-0 win away at Tottenham in August their only secure performance without the South American.
If we were Brendan Rodgers we’d wrap Lucas in cotton wool every chance we get and he should definitely be the first name on the team sheet if the Anfield side want any chance of reviving their top four challenge in the second half of the season.
(All stats for this story were taking from data available on WhoScored).