Brazilian is Reds’ only Scouser – and he aims to prove it
EVERTON V LIVERPOOL Today. Goodison Park. Kick-off 1.30pm. Live on Sky Sports 1
LUCAS LEIVA will endeavour to invoke the spirit of Steven Gerrard ahead of the Merseyside derby this afternoon.
The former Liverpool skipper towered across this fixture since he made his derby debut in 1999, losing just five of the 33 he was involved in and scoring 10 goals.
His summer move to LA Galaxy has left a huge hole, both in terms of his personal contribution and because there will be no Liverpudlians in the starting XI for the first time in recent memory.
However, the Brazilian midfielder – now the club’s longest-serving player – will attempt to fill the vacuum as an honorary Scouser.
“When Stevie was here, we could see during the week before the derby that his emotions were a little bit different,” says Lucas.
“He was super–focused. He’d talk a lot about the game, that he couldn’t lose the derby. It’s something I learned from him. Because of all the years I’ve been here, I have the same feeling. I understand how much it means for the fans, for the club and for the players.
“If we play like Stevie did for many years – with his passion and his spirit – then we will be fine.”
Gerrard habitually texts senior players such as Lucas and Martin Skrtel, plus manager Brendan Rodgers, from California on the night before big games, and it’s certain that there will have been words of encouragement on Lucas’s phone when he woke up this morning.
He may have been born in Dourados in Brazil, rather than Bootle or Toxteth, but Lucas considers himself very much a part of the city after eight years at Anfield.
“My kids are Scousers anyway,” he says.
“My son Pedro, who’s four, talks to me about the Everton game.
“People talk about it when I drop him off at school. The man who comes to check the gas talks about it!
“Of course, when you don’t have players who were born in Liverpool, people will say maybe that the club has lost its identity.
“It’s up to us to show we care and show the passion the fans want.
“Since Stevie left, Martin and I have the responsibility to tell the other players every day how much the derby means and how big this club is.
“Of course Everton will believe they can win because they are playing well and they are at home.
“But it’s a derby and we know that being the favourite doesn’t mean much.
“We’ve looked a bit anxious but this is normal when things aren’t going so well. We have to learn to deal with it.
“I’m one of the oldest guys here, so I try to make sure the young players keep calm then their quality will come through.”