Lucas Leiva has been awarded Liverpool’s Standard Chartered Player of the Month Award for February, capping an impressive month with a superb performance playing out of position in the cup final defeat to Manchester City.

The central midfielder filled in at centre-back for the Reds at Wembley and put in a fine defensive performance against the Sky Blues, forming a makeshift partnership with Kolo Toure after Mamadou Sakho had to be substituted with a head injury.

Award is bittersweet following cup disappointment

The 29-year-old, who is currently serving a spell on the sidelines after picking up an injury on that Sunday afternoon in London, admitted that losing the game was tough to take. 

“We were very disappointed we lost the final and I got an injury,” he told the club’s official website, before reflecting on what had been a good month for himself on a personal level.

The Brazilian said: “It was a positive month for me and thanks to everyone who voted.”

Lucas Leiva during his man of the match display against Manchester City at Wembley (Metro)

The award which is voted for by Liverpool fans was collected by Lucas with 34 per cent of the vote, putting him ahead of his compatriots Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino in the poll, something he admitted he took pleasure from.

Lucas pleased to out-do countrymen

He told liverpoolfc.com: “It’s very good to beat my two good friends [Coutinho and Firmino], especially in the position I play!” 

The defensive midfielder who as mentioned, has performed a central defensive role in recent fixtures, said that in the position he plays “Normally you don’t get so much credit, so it’s a nice award to get. I’m really happy!”

Lucas’ thigh injury has been feared to keep him out of action for around five to six weeks, but the player currently in his eighth season at Anfield has recently been quoted as saying he is aiming to be “close to coming back after the international break.”

With Jürgen Klopp’s side still competing in the Europa League and having an outside shot of making the top four, the number 21 also stated that he’s hoping to be “playing a big part in the last part of the season.”

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About the author
Greg Stanley
Aspiring football writer and videographer-type person, studying journalism in Brighton.