Lucas Leiva and Liverpool supporters have had a rocky relationship over the last 7 years, and whilst it would be fair to see over recent years things have improved it appears that his on-pitch struggles have started to hurt his ability to ignore abuse.

Signed by former manager Rafael Benitez in the summer of 2007 the former Bola de Ouro winner was signed with high expectations - perhaps false ones based upon his country of origin.  Supporters thought they were getting a marauding box-to-box midfielder, what they soon discovered was that they had a found a player who was searching for an identity in English football.

From 2007 to 2010 Lucas struggled to convince fans he was good enough to wear the Red shirt his initial misery was compounded by being booed in a 0-0 draw against Fulham in 2008.

His turnaround in fortunes came in 2010 after the departure of Javier Mascherano to Barcelona; this allowed Lucas to find a home as Liverpool’s anchorman with the Brazilian proving to be integral to Liverpool’s 2011 improvement under club Legend Kenny Dalglish.

His form during that year turned around fan perceptions and he became something of a cult favourite, even having his own chant sang from the terraces (a sign of acknowledgement not often afforded to others).

Unfortunately for the Brazilian a horrific Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury curtailed a promising 2011/12 campaign and sparked an alarming downturn of events that saw Dalglish replaced by talented Ulsterman Brendan Rodgers.

Lucas recovery went as planned until he picked up a nasty thigh injury in the opening minutes of Liverpools 2012/13 home clash against Manchester city ruled him out for a number of months.

The Liverpool number 21 still managed 31 appearances in total during that season but it became evident as the 2013/14 season unravelled that the Brazilian just simply wasn’t capable of meeting the physical and technical demands of the Liverpool first team and found himself dropped for the superior Gerrard as the sole pivot in Rodgers’ midfield.

With the history lesson over it’s fair to say that the Brazilian has had to fight to earn every ounce of appreciation that he’s received from Liverpool supporters over the years and it may explain why in recent times he’s fallen foul to baiting tactics from irate fans who’ve grown frustrated by his lacklustre performances.

Liverpool fans can be a players biggest support but also their worst nightmare. For them hard work and dedication buys you time, quality and end product earns you adulation. It’s a rule that applies to all players.

The problem for Lucas during the periods before and after 2011 is that supporters were and are given a whole lot of the former but little of the latter.

That is not to say the Brazilian doesn’t have quality, he does. He’s good in the air and is a competent passer of the ball. However whereas in the past his inability to demonstrate his quality came from a lack of experience it is now out of a lack of physical ability to keep up with the demands of English football.

In a league where the build ups and transitions are slower - for example France or Italy - I have little doubt he would thrive but in a league that focuses on great pace and energy, and in a team which demands mobility in that area of the field he ultimately falls short.

For Lucas this is unfortunate, he comes across as a likeable person and over the years has become an important voice in the dressing room but ultimately it’s the football on the pitch that talks.

With the arrival of Emre Can and the exceptional talent of Scouser Jordan Rossiter emerging it would appear that the Brazilians' stay at Anfield is coming to an end.

If that is to be the case it would be a shame if Lucas allowed a relationship built on healthy respect to sour by responding to further baiting on social media.