Liverpool and Brazil midfielder Lucas Leiva has conceded that he would like to emulate his uncle Leivinha by making the final squad that will travel to the World Cup in South Africa next year.
Leivinha played in the 1974 World Cup for the Verde e Amarelo and earned a total of 21 caps, scoring seven goals in the process. Click to continue reading...

I don't make it a habit of watching England games but I'm tempted to try and catch today's friendly with Brazil. Not to actually see England play, you see, but rather in the hope that Lucas Leiva gets a game in the Brazilian midfield.
It speaks volumes about his game this season that Lucas is no longer being constantly pilloried by the fans (well, at least the majority of them) and, without wanting to replace Alonso, he has made a good job of filling in the Spaniard's old role. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez wants an amazing £14 million for Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva - and plans to keep him despite needing to sell players.
The Kop chief has been approached by a couple of top European sides who hoped to exploit the Anfield cash problems by landing Lucas in a bargain deal. Click to continue reading...

Lucas Leiva believes the pressure is greater playing for Liverpool than Brazil because of the current predicament at Anfield.
The Liverpool midfielder is preparing for his country's friendly against England in Doha on Saturday. But thoughts of the situation on Merseyside are also on his mind with Liverpool facing Champions League elimination and currently seventh in the Premier League. Click to continue reading...

It's been a long, strange trip for young Lucas Leiva since he first stepped foot on the Anfield pitch for the first time in the summer of 2007. The midfielder was a highly publicised signing, after he made his way from Brazilian side Gremio for around £6 million to Merseyside quickly becoming a star-in-waiting.

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When David N'Gog scored so early on, the game opened itself perfectly for Liverpool: this was the ideal starting point, the launching pad that could lead to a much needed win. Then came the inevitable defensive lapse that resulted in a conceeded goal which was followed up by the sucker punch of Cameron Jerome's splendid but somewhat fortiuitous goal and suddenly it was a repeat of so many games this season. Click to continue reading...

It's been quite a roller coaster ride for Brazilian Lucas Leiva since he made his was to Anfield from Gremio for around £5m during the summer of 2007. Instead of getting an opportunity to learn the subtle nuances of the Premier League, Leiva has been throw into the fire in his second season with the [. Click to continue reading...

Lucas Leiva had a great game against Man Utd on Sunday.
I have been his biggest critic since he first joined Liverpool a couple of seasons ago.
But I have to say he was very good yesterday in central midfield alongside Mascherano.
He tackled like a man possessed, winning virtually every challenge he went into. Click to continue reading...

Just as last Tuesday, this was a game that Liverpool had to win but, contrary to the game against Lyon, they put in a performance that irrespective of the result was an excellent one. That Liverpool did win is a great bonus but in reality seeing the team respond in this manner was almost enough.
Of course, there will be those who will claim that Jamie Carragher should have been sent off, particularly because of his foul on Michael Owen. Click to continue reading...

Following United, the expectation is our lads will create at least five clear cut chances and at the very least, one will get put in the back of the net.

At Anfield yesterday this wasn't the case but the frustration we feel through the hangovers today could have been avoided if several things had been done differently.

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It's been a week of hell for the players and supporters of Liverpool Football Club, but a much deserved 2-0 win against their arch-enemy Manchester United Sunday will remove the gloom and doom on Merseyside and offer Rafael Benitez vindication as a football manager.

Simply put, Liverpool were deserved winners in this game.

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Lucas Leiva has vowed to repay Rafa Benitez for his faith, with the Liverpool boss now the man under pressure at Anfield.
Brazilian Lucas has constantly been scrutinised by fans for his unconvincing displays in a Reds shirt since his arrival from Gremio in 2007.
Benitez has persistently defended the player's abilities, but now the tides have turned as the Spanish boss is under immense pressure as a result of Liverpool's dreadful form. Click to continue reading...

"There is a massive difference in money but we have better fans than United."

I don't know whether I'd describe the difference as 'massive', but yes, Rafael Benitez has spent more money than Sir Alex Ferguson.

Money
Liverpool
2004/2005
In:
Djibril Cisse £14m
Xabi Alonso £10.

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If Jay Spearing needed a lesson in the fickle nature of football fans, he certainly got it this week. Given the Lucas Leiva's continuing unpopularity, Spearing somehow became not only a viable alterative for the Brazilian but also a better player. A sort of 'he can't be any worse than him' attitude took over. Click to continue reading...

This was a game that Liverpool had to win and for over an hour looked like they could do so. Then Lyon equalised and you sensed that something dramatic was about to happen. Sadly, it did and now Liverpool have a huge task in their hands to qualify. They have done so in the past under similar circumstances but this time it looks too much with two very good teams in the group. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool supporters talk about European nights at Anfield, but it was French side Lyon who "did a Liverpool" Tuesday night with an injury-time goal to seal a 2-1 come from behind victory on Merseyside.

The win for Lyon was a bit of a harsh result for the Reds especially since Rafael Benitez's side played far better than they did against Sunderland.

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Rafa considers Brazilian raid apparently.

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Liverpool have been linked with a January move for Vasco da Gama's promising young midfielder Nilton.

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There are a number of excuses to which we could turn in order to sweeten this defeat: Darren Bent's fluke goal, the absence of both Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, the late arrival of Mascherano, Lucas and Insua, the little time for preparation that Liverpool had and the length of time that Sunderland had in order to get ready for this game. Click to continue reading...

Can it get any worse for Liverpool? The club played one of their worst first-half performances against Fiorentina in the Champions League a few weeks ago and lost 2-0, which was followed by a very unconvincing display in the 2-0 loss against Chelsea. In addition, the club has already lost to Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur in the league.

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Rafael Benitez has renewed his attack on the international calendar after his preparations for a crucial week in Liverpool's season were thrown into chaos.
Talismanic duo Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard are both absent through injury when Benitez's under-pressure side resume Premier League duties at Sunderland on Saturday. Click to continue reading...

Sunderland v Liverpool
Stadium of Light - Sunderland, England
English Premier League
Saturday 17 October 2009
Kickoff: 16:00 BST, 15:00 GMT, 10:00 EST

Sunderland hosts Liverpool as the English Premier League returns to action after the international break.

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Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres have both been ruled out of Liverpool's trip to Sunderland on Saturday because of injuries picked up on international duty.
Gerrard, Liverpool's captain, suffered a groin injury in England's World Cup defeat to Ukraine last weekend and limped out of training two days later, subsequently missing the home win against Belarus. Click to continue reading...

Earlier in the week, former Chelsea player Tony Cascarino slated Lucas Leiva, Emiliano Insua, Fabio Aurelio and Martin Skrtel in the harshest terms possible. Is he right or wrong with his criticisms?
Cascarino told the Times: "Lucas Leiva, Emiliano Insua, Fabiano Aurelio, Martin Skrtel... Click to continue reading...

OPTA's latest statistics have revealed some surprising facts about the effectiveness of two of Liverpool's key midfielders.
According to OPTA, Javier Mascherano is the top passer in the Premiership this season, with 547 completed passes and an accuracy rate of 87%. Chelsea's Michael Essien has the same accuracy rate but has completed a lot less passes. Click to continue reading...

Sunderland v Liverpool
Stadium: Stadium of Light - Sunderland, England
Competition: English Premier League
Date: 17 October 2009
Kickoff: 16:00 BST, 15:00 GMT, 10:00 EST

Sunderland hosts Liverpool as the English Premier League returns to action after the international break.

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Sunderland v Liverpool
Stadium: Stadium of Light Sunderland, England
Competition: English Premier League
Date: 17 October 2009
Kickoff: 16:00 BST, 15:00 GMT, 10:00 EST

Sunderland hosts Liverpool as the English Premier League returns to action after the international break.

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This doesn't please me. Apparently Benitez is keen on finishing 8th place as well. At least that's what will happen if he continues to concentrate his interest on donkeys. Take note Lucas Leiva. Emile Heskey is good for one thing, and one thing only. He's a big guy, a strong guy. Therefore, long, aerial balls could potentially [. Click to continue reading...

Rafael Benitez, Liverpool Manager with the weight of the World upon him.Losing playmaker Xabi Alonso in the summer was bad enough but having to replace him with Lucas Leiva was the kick in the goolies I even felt myself, Owwhh!Half his team not playing well so far including Skrtel, Jamie, Masch and Stevie G. Click to continue reading...

Javier Mascherano is on a collision course with Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez.
The Argentine midfielder still harbours resentment over Benitez's refusal to sell him to Barcelona in the summer and Liverpool's subsequent refusal to hand him a pay rise that would bring him into line with the club's top earners. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez does not believe Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel's trip to Australia with Holland will hamper their preparations for facing Sunderland.
The Dutch duo have made the long trip to Sydney with their country for Saturday's friendly with the Socceroos.
Benitez would rather Kuyt and Babel did not have to travel, but he is confident the pair will have ample time to recover ahead of the game at Sunderland on 17th October. Click to continue reading...

If you believe Liverpool manager Raphael Benitez there are few midfielders more suited for the Premier League than Lucas Leiva. After all, Benitez has spent much of his 2009-2010 campaign lobbying on behalf of the twenty-two year old Brazilian. Benitez praises Levia's work rate and dedication to the team, all the while ignoring his glaring deficiencies.

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Pundits and so called 'experts' have been talking endlessly about the ineffective nature of quite a few players within Rafa's first team squad after some rather woeful performances and defensive nightmares, but are there really players at the club who are not good enough, and if so, who are they?

Portsmouth Vs Liverpool Tickets Still Available!

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The good news for Liverpool fans this morning is they do have a team capable of winning the Premier League. The bad news however is, their that team and their best chance may have already been and gone last season.

Im not pressing the panic button just because of one defeat to Chelsea, but it was the manner of their defeat both to the Blues on Sunday and Fiorentina last week, that asks serious questions of Rafa Benitez's men and their title credentials this campaign.

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Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti believes Liverpool have 'lost something' following the summer departure of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid.
Ancelotti is well aware of Alonso's influence having been impressed by the Spaniard's pairing with Javier Mascherano during his former club AC Milan's UEFA Champions League final clash with Liverpool in 2007. Click to continue reading...

Lucas Leiva, does he really come from Brazil?
A nation which has always produced footballers of skill, class and finesse with the ability to score amazing goals from nowhere.
Yes, that's where our little man comes from. But would you ever have guessed it? I doubt it very much.
The lad joined Liverpool two years ago and has completely failed to perform for the first team. Click to continue reading...