How to replace Lucas Leiva

After Lucas Leiva picked up an injury in an otherwise relatively uneventful derby on Saturday evening, there has been much debate over how to replace him for the next few games until he returns. Lucas has been seen as vital by many fans since his return to the side as his reintroduction has coincided with a drastic upturn in Liverpool’s form and an unusual stability in defence. The Brazilian’s impact this season should not be underestimated as he has put some extremely solid performances in, the like of which haven’t been seen from him for many seasons. However, this impact is more down to the fact that it seems Brendan Rodgers has finally realised, for now at least, that it is imperative that this Liverpool side, or almost any top side in fact, play with a defensive midfielder. Lucas, in the long run, simply isn’t good enough to play for Liverpool Football Club. There will always be the thoughts of what could have been when it comes to him but the injuries have taken their toll. He clearly struggles to maintain a suitable intensity through a full 90 minutes, much like Gerrard.

In the long run this injury could prove a blessing in disguise as it could be the final straw in proving to Rodgers that a suitable defensive midfielder is brought in. For now, though, it is imperative that Rodgers finds a way to replace him without putting a dint in Liverpool’s form and subsequently derailing the fight for a place in the top 4.

There are four main options to help replace Lucas. Firstly, one option that no doubt many will suggest is to simply replace Lucas with Steven Gerrard. This keeps the rest of the team the same and avoids reshuffling a solid back 3.

The problem with this would be Gerrard’s glaring lack of defensive awareness and general ability to compliment a defence from that position. This would leave us with a deep lying playmaker rather than a defensive midfielder, leaving us vulnerable at the back as well as lacking someone with the patience required to play short probing passes in the defensive third rather than attempting ‘Hollywood passes’ that disrupt our play. It has been obvious in recent weeks just how vital a genuine defensive midfielder is so to replace that with a deep lying playmaker is simply not an adequate option.

Another, more viable option is to change the current system until Lucas returns. A return to a back 4 would mean the Reds could implement a similar system to last season’s extremely effective 4-4-2 diamond.

This would allow the ever impressive Emre Can to move into the defensive midfield role. Can has showed his defensive nous as a centre back for the Reds, but also his on the ball ability, passing and composure that would be vital in what many see as his best position. Changing the system in order to allow Can to replace Lucas in the defensive midfield role could see our unusually stable defence crumble and return to the frustrating and utterly inept one that has become the norm. Martin Skrtel has improved drastically under the current system of 3 at the back due to Emre Can and Mamadou Sakho masking his weaknesses and freeing him up from having to wrestle with strong centre forwards and allowed him to rely on them to win the ball and pick out a pass. This recent form would most likely disappear if Liverpool return to a two centre back system. Skrtel has been consistently poor in that system throughout his Liverpool career, as has the defence as a whole, ruling out the option of returning to 4 at the back.

The third option would be to keep the same personnel in the back 3 but tweak it slightly so that Can is the centre of the 3 playing as a libero, thus allowing him the freedom to push into midfield and play out from the back without having to change the components of the current back 3.

This allows Emre Can to sweep as a defensive midfielder when necessary but also means that when there is sufficient cover, he can slot back into the back 3 in a similar fashion to that of both Javi Martinez and Sergio Busquets under Pep Guardiola. In order to play this system without a player occupying the defensive midfield role continually throughout the game like Lucas has done, the midfield would have to play slightly deeper. Henderson and Allen would have to provide the energy and intelligence to cover the deeper midfield zones when necessary and Coutinho would likely occupy a slighter deeper role. This role has often benefitted Coutinho, though, as it allows him more space to drive into with the ball and also gives him the chance to play his killer through balls a little earlier, so this could prove a positive adjustment.

Another possible variation of this system would be to play Manquillo in the right wing back role if he is fit. This would offer the stability that could be lost through the lack of an orthodox defensive midfielder. Although, this wouldn’t offer the same ability to attack down the right side as Jordon Ibe or Lazar Markovic would, but it is well worth considering and it could be worth bringing Manquillo on at a later stage of games if Liverpool lead in order to help preserve the lead. This option, with or without Manquillo, could certainly be a viable solution whilst Lucas is out injured.

The fourth main possible solution would be to keep the same system but change the players around. Can could be pushed forward to play as the team’s defensive midfielder, meaning that a player has to come in and occupy the right centre back role in the back 3. Dejan Lovren and Glen Johnson seem to be Rodgers’ preferred backups for this role; however both of these players have shown nothing to suggest that they deserve to be placed in the Liverpool starting XI, leading to the search for a different player to fill this role. Kolo Toure could provide this once he returns from the African Cup of Nations. Due to his prolonged absence, though, he may take some time adjusting to the Reds’ new system meaning another solution must be found in the short term. The one player that stands out is Javier Manquillo.

The young full back has been criticised by many for a lack of ability going forward, in stark contrast to the criticism that Alberto Moreno has faced. One thing, though, that cannot be criticised, is his defensive capabilities. The Spaniard has put in some extremely impressive performances for the Reds when it comes to the defensive side of the game, showing an impressive ability to read the game well and position himself to make important blocks. He may not have the ability to carry the ball out from the back like Emre Can but this shouldn’t restrict Liverpool’s ability to play out from defence too much. He has shown much more than Lovren or Glen Johnson this season and looks tailor made to play as the right centre back in a back 3. This looks to be the best option as it allows Liverpool to continue with the same system that has brought them the recent upturn in form and means that only one player has to be brought into the team which is much less disruptive.

Whatever the solution Brendan Rodgers’ deems as the way to go, the injury to Lucas Leiva has highlighted the importance of having back up’s to the most vital positions. It is going to be a hard slog until Lucas comes back and the team are going to have to keep adapting. There’s a battle on for top 4 and the Reds aren’t out of it just yet.