Liverpool vs Swansea City - Klopp hails importance of rejuvenated Lucas Leiva

Posted Saturday, November 28, 2015 by PA

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva's performances under new manager Jurgen Klopp have largely gone under the radar amid the hype which greeted the new manager's arrival but that may be about to change.

The Brazil international will serve a one-match suspension for the visit of Swansea after accumulating a fifth booking of the season.

Statistics this week showed Lucas has made the second-highest number of tackles in European football this season but the quiet midfielder's contribution has gone largely unheralded with the progress of players like Roberto Firmino and the resurgence of Alberto Moreno and Mamadou Sakho getting more headlines.

Lucas' future under predecessor Brendan Rodgers was a constant subject for speculation and he finally appeared to be on his way out of the club on loan to Besiktas in August only for a timely - for him - injury to captain Jordan Henderson to present a lifeline.

Since Rodgers' departure the 28-year-old, the longest-serving player of the current squad, has become a permanent fixture for Klopp, starting every Premier League match.

That run will end at Anfield on Sunday as he serves a one-match ban for his fifth booking of the season last weekend and Klopp hopes it will not have a knock-on effect.

"I hope he's not a big miss. It's good for both of us that I'm here. I like players like this, he likes playing like this," he said.

"He has improved since we've been here, adapted to our style of play better and better. He is a very important player for us.

"He can be much more dominant in the game, that's what we are always talking about, but he has a really good personality and in a position like his position it's very important that you have a good personality.

"I'm not sure he's unappreciated because it's one of the most important [positions], for sure.

"I heard here in England it's 'holding midfielder' - we should change this name because [that's] not all of his job.

"He has to organise, he has to read the game in every situation. I'm not sure how many passes he has to play in this position but it's a lot because usually we have to switch the game.

"It's an important position in football, in the middle of the pitch it's the heart of the game and we all know without a heart, nothing works."

A convincing 4-1 victory at Manchester City last Saturday put Liverpool within eight points of surprise league leaders Leicester and six adrift of a top-four spot.

However, despite growing confidence within the squad Klopp has ruled out even thinking about a push for the title - for now at least.

"I don't know in this moment who will win the league and I don't care about this, I don't think about this in this moment," he added.

Swansea boss Garry Monk believes Klopp needs time to turn Liverpool into genuine title contenders.

Liverpool manager Klopp has raised expectations during his short time on Merseyside with only one defeat in nine games and impressive Barclays Premier League wins at Chelsea and Manchester City.

Title favourites City were thrashed 4-1 last weekend to persuade some observers that Klopp could steer Liverpool into the Premier League shake-up as early as this season.

But Monk, who has an insight into the demands at Liverpool as his former Swansea manager and good friend Brendan Rodgers was Klopp's predecessor, says too much should not expected of the charismatic German right now.

"They will need time to get to the point of being title contenders - whether it be this season or in coming seasons," Monk said.

"Whenever Liverpool appoint a manager, the expectation is for them to be title challengers.

"That is the way the club perceives itself.

"Whether that is this season or next season, that remains to be seen.

"Liverpool have not been genuine title contenders for a while, but the expectation will always be there because of the type of club it is."

Swansea's former Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey misses out through suspension and Monk has a number of selection dilemmas ahead of the trip to Anfield.

He made four changes for the disappointing 2-2 home draw with Bournemouth but the likes of Kyle Bartley, Leon Britton, Wayne Routledge and Eder all appeared rusty.

"They were difficult circumstances," Monk said.

"We made the changes with the right intentions, and those players were part of the team that fought back from 2-0 down when as a team we were not performing at our best.

"They deserve big credit for that, and you don't judge them on that performance.

"Any player will tell you they need a run of games to get up to speed."