Does Lucas still have a future at Anfield?

Whether Lucas Leiva leaves us or not and no matter if we've have doubted his credentials in a red shirt along the way, I don’t think any of us will ever doubt his wholeheartedness and his willingness to die for the cause.

He reinvented himself from an attacking box to box player to a holding midfielder of some pedigree gaining international honours with Brazil and becoming an integral part of the Liverpool midfield at a time when Steven Gerrard injuries had begun to change his explosive nature within his game.

Lucas has been unlucky with injuries.  The Brazilian suffered a long-term knee-injury (anterior cruciate ligament) having to be carried off in the Carling Cup against Chelsea in November 2011 when at the time being one of our most influential players, in fact we struggled in the Premiership after his injury.

Lucas being carried off against Chelsea

His knee injury exasperated his progress making him susceptible to nagging injuries.  He picked up another long-term injury (thigh) against Man City in August 2012 and damaged his medial collateral ligament last season against Aston Villa in the Premiership.  The cumulative impact of his injuries has had a dramatic effect on the most important aspect of his game, his high energy levels.

Those of us who watched in person the debacle at Selhurst Park will have witnessed Lucas struggling to keep with play in the midst of the Palace revival and I can honestly state, that if I had been asked whether Lucas would have started the first of game of the 2014-15 season I would have answered in the negative.

Seeing Lucas failing to track back as Clyne blew by him was as embarrassing as it was sad.   Sad it the sense that if he cannot recapture those energy levels his future at the club is over as alongside Gerrard, Rodgers cannot afford to have two midfielders sitting, imparting no drive and physical impetus on the game going forward as it puts too much pressure and reliance on Jordan Henderson.  Against Southampton, we only managed to regain a portion of possession once Lucas was replaced by Allen, hence I expect the ex-Swansea stalwart to start against Man City.

If Lucas is to stay he may have to get used to playing second fiddle to Allen and Can and at a time in his career where he has again missed out on selection even after their very poor showing at the World Cup, therefore it will be no surprise to see him move on.

Balotelli, hit or miss

As Ray Wilkins says, Brendan Rodgers is not taking a chance on the player, but on the human being.  Adel Taarabt also hinted at improvement in Balotelli’s make-up and move towards maturing off the pitch.
 
If the player really wants to assert himself as one of the greatest players in the world it’s not too late and he could just be at the right club and city to release that potential.  We can all talk about Brendan Rodgers working the oracle, Steven Gerrard’s overseeing role or the expertise of Dr Steve Rodgers, but it’s down to the player.

And so it begins...

Gary McAllister spoke about the trepidation before Nicolas Anelka came to Anfield because of the players reputation which came before him.  McAllister says, that player was excellent and brilliant in training, thus sometimes these things can be over hyped, although he agreed that it’s a risky buy highlighting the fact that his transfer fee has gone down each time hinting at a problem.

A three year contract suggest a watching brief from the Liverpool hierarchy.  Should Balotelli have a successful season the length of his contract will probably be increased and should he go the other way he’ll be jettisoned as fast as he arrived.

Round-up

With Jordan Ibe's continued improvement one wonders if he is to be loaned out again, whether he’d be better suited to a Premiership team given his improvement.  A strategic stance on loaning him out in the Premiership is that he will be in a position to impress at the highest level and also damage our competitors.

Joao Teixiera starting well at Brighton all goes well for us under the guidance of Liverpool favourite Sami Hyypia.  If he can get over a propensity for picking up frustrating injuries following a career threatening back injury in the 2011-12 season when he spent six months in a brace he could well develop into a top class player.
 
His potential is obvious as Hyppia alluded to saying “Joao is a very good player.  We also need quality from the other players and if we manage to do that we'll get Joao on the ball and he'll be dangerous."

"He likes to be on the ball and do his best work in the final third of the pitch.  He's got a great opportunity and we'll push him to improve himself."