Klopp: Lucas "Wasn't Really Ready For 90 Minutes"

The only real blemish on yesterday’s 4-1 thumping of the defending champions was the 1 in that scoreline. We all saw it— Lucas Leiva, under pressure on the wing, tried to pass back to Simon Mignolet but overhit it and set up a goal for Jamie Vardy.

But everything worked out. Liverpool added two more goals in the second half and kept Leicester out. That moment notwithstanding, Lucas was pretty solid in the back. And he later acknowledged his mistake with a tongue-in-cheek celebration of his first assist in ten years.

After the game, Jürgen Klopp was asked about Lucas being deputized as a central defender and the mistake that cost Liverpool a clean sheet. The bossman minced was characteristically blunt.

“We had to throw him in cold water, he wasn’t really ready for 90 minutes, the plan was he would be on the bench but after training we knew he would have to play. Especially against Jamie Vardy, with his over the shoulder game, it is very difficult to play.”

In fairness to everyone involved, the team was in a tight spot. Mamadou Sakho was still in the doghouse and Dejan Lovren was ruled out due to injury. Throwing Lucas into a four-man backline seemed like the Least Bad Option. And it was, probably.

Regardless, Liverpool won and Lucas once again demonstrated the value he brings to the team, on and off the pitch.