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Rafa Benitez is under immense pressure on Merseyside as the boss who once secured European glory and last year came agonizingly close to dethroning  United appears to be losing his grip. Results have however, improved recently and despite a 1-1 draw with Championship side Reading in the F.A Cup, Liverpool’s form has picked up with the Merseyside club recently securing back-to-back Premier League wins, keeping two clean sheets in the process.

Benitez has praised his side following these three games and has in particular highlighted the defence and holding midfielder Lucas Leiva. Benitez said of the Brazilian:

“Everybody with some idea about football can see that in the last three games, he has been the one controlling midfield and trying to hold the team together. We have a lot of players with an offensive mentality, but still Lucas was there in the middle, doing a fantastic job for the team. He is going to be a very important player for us in the future. The lads love him because he trains really well, he is always chatting, always working hard. They know he is a very good professional and a very good lad.”

So are Liverpool fans finally warming to the midfielder? Or is Rafa continuing to show blind faith in a player that is not fit for the Premier League?

Lucas has been performing to a much higher standard this season and has become a regular in the Liverpool set up, having started all but 4 four Premier League games this season yet there are still question marks over his place in the team. His displays in the last few games in the absence of the suspended Javier Mascherano have been impressive and he was a key factor in Liverpool’s victories. The Brazilian has been far more consistent than the Argentine this campaign and Rafa has been quick to jump to his defence should he experience criticism. To say Lucas has turned a corner may be a step to far but he has undoubtedly been one of Liverpool’s more consistent performers in a season that has been marred with inconsistencies.

Lucas has this season been the cog that has kept the Liverpool machine running. His performances have rarely been spectacular but he has been disciplined and has performed in the defensive midfield role. He has been one of the few Liverpool midfielders to up his game since the departure of Xabi Alonso and it would seem as though Rafa regularly praises him as the Anfield faithful are still sceptical of his abilities. There is still a great deal lacking from the Brazilian’s game but he is certainly moving in the right direction. He will also benefit from the inclusion of Alberto Aquilani in the side as the Italian offers another dimension to Liverpool’s play and he will allow Lucas to focus solely on his defensive responsibilities.

Lucas is not the most popular member of the Liverpool squad and this is not likely to change anytime soon. The midfielder has a lot of work on his hands if he is to change the opinion of the Anfield faithful yet this season has certainly been a vast improvement on the last campaign. Maybe, just maybe the Brazilian is starting to show why Rafa has installed so much faith in him.

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