Lucas

[Rich]

Id rather we didnt persist with Lucas at CB. Whilst he was good, any time the ball was behind him he was struggling and will struggle for pace.

He is an excellent in defensive midfield (if a little limited attack wise) and should be allowed to play there. He is not much more than a solution to a problem created by the previous manager and multiple transfer fiascos.

He could be the solution to having a ball playing centreback though. I wouldn't discount him moving back there full time.

[Irishnev]

Id rather we didnt persist with Lucas at CB. Whilst he was good, any time the ball was behind him he was struggling and will struggle for pace.

He is an excellent in defensive midfield (if a little limited attack wise) and should be allowed to play there. He is not much more than a solution to a problem created by the previous manager and multiple transfer fiascos.

I have a load of time for Lucas but over the course of a season in the EPL where pace and power up front is what most clubs opt for then Lucas will struggle. He does position himself well and he will always give 100% but he is slow and if he gets isolated out wide by fast & powerful forwards then I see a lot of red cards for him.

In a slower more technical league like Italy or Spain even he might do well there as a CB but I don't see it in England.

[Tribute]

He could be the solution to having a ball playing centreback though. I wouldn't discount him moving back there full time.

He could end up there but most likely as cover or in cup games. I think Jurgen will stick to Matip and one of Sakho/Lovren/Skrtel as a regular partnership for next season.

I like the idea of a ball playing CB - is Matip one? The way he's played on the few instances I've seen him, he looks like a young Ferdinand

[wiw]

Id rather we didnt persist with Lucas at CB. Whilst he was good, any time the ball was behind him he was struggling and will struggle for pace.

He is an excellent in defensive midfield (if a little limited attack wise) and should be allowed to play there. He is not much more than a solution to a problem created by the previous manager and multiple transfer fiascos.

He could be the solution to having a ball playing centreback though. I wouldn't discount him moving back there full time.

Sentiment aside I really don't think he has the legs or passing range to play in DM anymore, especially in the premier league, despite defo having the brain to do it. CB seems to suit him down to the ground, he's our best CB I love how much he kicked Aguero on Sunday. Pair him with a pacey partner and I think we'd be ok

[wiw]

I thought he did have it in him, but compare him to someone like Verratti and you can see what we are missing. Plus Klopp seems to want to play two in the middle who can get up and down the pitch most of the time which doesn't tend to suit Lucas at all

[Paul12]

He might well be our best CB at the moment but his weaknesses in that role are so obvious that his strengths won't protect him from being exploited.

I have been wondering whether we should sometimes revert to the Rogers plan of dropping the DM back into a back 3 so we can position the fullbacks much further up the pitch. That would suit him.

[Paul12]

He might well be our best CB at the moment but his weaknesses in that role are so obvious that his strengths won't protect him from being exploited.

I have been wondering whether we should sometimes revert to the Rogers plan of dropping the DM back into a back 3 so we can position the fullbacks much further up the pitch. That would suit him.

[BigChief]

He might well be our best CB at the moment but his weaknesses in that role are so obvious that his strengths won't protect him from being exploited.

I have been wondering whether we should sometimes revert to the Rogers plan of dropping the DM back into a back 3 so we can position the fullbacks much further up the pitch. That would suit him.

So obvious? Please enlighten me as I'm missing something.

[Paul12]

So obvious? Please enlighten me as I'm missing something.

Well pace is the obvious one. Height WILL be an issue against big attacks. Perhaps less obviously, he also appears to struggle against good movement in the box.

[dww]

He is pretty good in the air but he's only 5' 9" so we need someone as good as Hyypia along side him to deal with an aerial bombardment, IMO.

I'd actually say he is excellent in the air. However you are right in the PL there will always be a bigger player and we need at least one or two players over 6' 3'' to deal with certain teams, tactics and situations. It's an area where a player like Stewart could help us have flexibility in the squad (alongside signings like Matip).

[The_weatherman]

Lucas could be very valuable at CB against teams that park the bus, helps us keep possession, something Klopp alluded to after the Augsburg game I think. Like dww says he's also quite good in the air, surprisingly so but he has got the tendency to give away fouls in dangerous areas. Lucas and someone like Sakho or Matip (by all accounts) against sides that sit deep should allow us to control the game.

[Shaggy]

[ame]https://twitter.com/AnfieldHQ/status/705741840725757952[/ame]

[RedReet]

FFS, knew it was only a matter of time before he got another bad(ish) injury.

[redmike65]

Ho hum, playing with an injury I suppose with the back line so thinned out that was unavoidable - or was it? Why did Caulker come in if not to play in such circumstances?

[Chris]

Play well get injured! Liverpool 2015/2016.

Hopefully we can cope, think he's been crap in midfield and we look better with Can there but he was immense every time he went back to CB and now we might see more of Marty just as we look secure at the back. ****.