In recent weeks Lucas has scored his first ever league goal in front of the Kop, had his name chanted by the Liverpool fans and played a significant role in some of the Reds most notable victories of the season.
His upturn in fortunes is a world away from the night when he was booed onto the pitch as he came on as a substitute against Sunderland during a spell when his struggles for form coincided with a costly sending off in the Merseyside derby and the concession of a points costing penalty against Wigan.
Unlike Samson who lost his strength following the cutting of his hair, the trimming of Lucas’ locks has coincided with things all of a sudden going right for him leading to suggestions that a simple short back and sides may be the secret of his recent success.
“Maybe,” laughs the man himself. “I have scored twice since then so maybe it was a good change for me and I don’t think I will have long hair again.”
Joking apart, the Brazilian is in no doubt about what lies behind his improved form and it has nothing to do with a trip to the barbers.
As far as the former Gremio man is concerned it is a combination of the faith that has been shown in him by his manager and team mates and the hard work that he has put in himself.
He said: “I am happy right now because the players and the coach have helped me a lot and now I just have to keep on going and hopefully next season will be even better for us than this one.
“The goal I scored against Newcastle is one way of repaying the faith that the manager has had in me because he has always showed his confidence in me.
“Even when I don’t start games I usually get to come on and play some minutes and now it is up to me to show that I have the quality to be part of this team.
“I know not everyone trusts in me but I cannot afford to worry about that – the most important thing is the team and the staff are happy with me and hopefully soon I will be able to show my real quality.”
Lucas’ headed goal against Newcastle was a special moment for him.
Firstly because it marked the end of a wait of almost two years for his debut Premier League strike.
But also because it was a moment when the 22-year-old delivered something tangible on behalf of the team as he guaranteed a victory which may not have been in doubt but still needed rubber stamping.
Now he is hoping to be able to keep on delivering whenever the opportunity presents itself, particularly with Liverpool today going in search of the three points which will allow them to keep up the pressure on title favourites Manchester United.
“My first league goal was a very special moment for me and it made me really, really happy, especially as it came in front of the Kop,” said Lucas.
“The most important thing though was that the goal helped the team.
“I was only on the pitch for 15 minutes but whenever you come off the bench you have to try and do something that helps the team and I am happy that I was able to do this against Newcastle.
“I have been waiting for this goal for a long, long time because although I have scored in other competitions I hadn’t scored in the league before this one.
“I am trying to improve every day and I am feeling much better now.
“Unfortunately, we are coming towards the end of the season right now but there is still a lot to play for and we must all give everything that we possibly can in the three games that we have left, starting with the game against West Ham.
“We keep on saying that we hope Man United will drop some points but that hasn’t happened up to now.
“But this doesn’t mean that it will not happen because strange things can happen in football, all we can do is keep on winning our own games and then we will see what happens.”
One thing which Rafa Benitez has continually been at pains to point out is Lucas’ relative youth in comparison with those whom he competes with for a place in Liverpool’s starting lineup.
As far as the Reds boss is concerned, the Brazilian international has both the time on his side and the necessary talent to make his own name at Anfield and Lucas is in full agreement.
He added: “It’s really difficult but it is good because when you are fighting for places with players like Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano and Steven Gerrard it means that you always have to do everything you can to try and improve because if you don’t improve then it will be impossible to play.
“This is what I am trying to do now in every single training session and whenever a chance comes my way I try to take it.
“I am learning but I think that I can be an important player for Liverpool. Steven is almost 29, Alonso is almost 28. Mascherano is almost 25 and I am 22.
“So I am young and I have to enjoy this time when I can train with them, play with them and learn from them and hopefully in one or two years time I will be a key player like them.
“But for now I want to give everything for the team because if we can win against West Ham then it could turn out to be a very important result for us.”
His upturn in fortunes is a world away from the night when he was booed onto the pitch as he came on as a substitute against Sunderland during a spell when his struggles for form coincided with a costly sending off in the Merseyside derby and the concession of a points costing penalty against Wigan.
Unlike Samson who lost his strength following the cutting of his hair, the trimming of Lucas’ locks has coincided with things all of a sudden going right for him leading to suggestions that a simple short back and sides may be the secret of his recent success.
“Maybe,” laughs the man himself. “I have scored twice since then so maybe it was a good change for me and I don’t think I will have long hair again.”
Joking apart, the Brazilian is in no doubt about what lies behind his improved form and it has nothing to do with a trip to the barbers.
As far as the former Gremio man is concerned it is a combination of the faith that has been shown in him by his manager and team mates and the hard work that he has put in himself.
He said: “I am happy right now because the players and the coach have helped me a lot and now I just have to keep on going and hopefully next season will be even better for us than this one.
“The goal I scored against Newcastle is one way of repaying the faith that the manager has had in me because he has always showed his confidence in me.
“Even when I don’t start games I usually get to come on and play some minutes and now it is up to me to show that I have the quality to be part of this team.
“I know not everyone trusts in me but I cannot afford to worry about that – the most important thing is the team and the staff are happy with me and hopefully soon I will be able to show my real quality.”
Lucas’ headed goal against Newcastle was a special moment for him.
Firstly because it marked the end of a wait of almost two years for his debut Premier League strike.
But also because it was a moment when the 22-year-old delivered something tangible on behalf of the team as he guaranteed a victory which may not have been in doubt but still needed rubber stamping.
Now he is hoping to be able to keep on delivering whenever the opportunity presents itself, particularly with Liverpool today going in search of the three points which will allow them to keep up the pressure on title favourites Manchester United.
“My first league goal was a very special moment for me and it made me really, really happy, especially as it came in front of the Kop,” said Lucas.
“The most important thing though was that the goal helped the team.
“I was only on the pitch for 15 minutes but whenever you come off the bench you have to try and do something that helps the team and I am happy that I was able to do this against Newcastle.
“I have been waiting for this goal for a long, long time because although I have scored in other competitions I hadn’t scored in the league before this one.
“I am trying to improve every day and I am feeling much better now.
“Unfortunately, we are coming towards the end of the season right now but there is still a lot to play for and we must all give everything that we possibly can in the three games that we have left, starting with the game against West Ham.
“We keep on saying that we hope Man United will drop some points but that hasn’t happened up to now.
“But this doesn’t mean that it will not happen because strange things can happen in football, all we can do is keep on winning our own games and then we will see what happens.”
One thing which Rafa Benitez has continually been at pains to point out is Lucas’ relative youth in comparison with those whom he competes with for a place in Liverpool’s starting lineup.
As far as the Reds boss is concerned, the Brazilian international has both the time on his side and the necessary talent to make his own name at Anfield and Lucas is in full agreement.
He added: “It’s really difficult but it is good because when you are fighting for places with players like Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano and Steven Gerrard it means that you always have to do everything you can to try and improve because if you don’t improve then it will be impossible to play.
“This is what I am trying to do now in every single training session and whenever a chance comes my way I try to take it.
“I am learning but I think that I can be an important player for Liverpool. Steven is almost 29, Alonso is almost 28. Mascherano is almost 25 and I am 22.
“So I am young and I have to enjoy this time when I can train with them, play with them and learn from them and hopefully in one or two years time I will be a key player like them.
“But for now I want to give everything for the team because if we can win against West Ham then it could turn out to be a very important result for us.”
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