Lucas Leiva proved he has a Liverpool future against West Brom

Liverpool’s Lucas Leiva and Aly Cissokho challenge West Bromwich Albion’s Billy Jones

Lucas Leiva returned from suspension and his fatherhood duties with his best performance in a long time against West Brom on Saturday.

The Brazilian took back control of Liverpool’s midfield, where many have criticised it this season and labelled it the Reds’ weak spot.

Lucas not only had more touches of the ball than any other player on the pitch in the 4-1 victory over the Baggies, but he also put in seven tackles – more than any other player as well.

Lucas sat in the midfield role in front of the defence, around the centre circle, sweeping up lose balls and allowing his team-mates to move forward.

He provided the much-needed catalyst between Liverpool’s defence and attack that has been missing in some performances this season.

At times Lucas reminded me of the astute and regimented Dietmar Hamann, who controlled that space between 1999-2006.

Importantly, Lucas’ marshalled, intelligent and mature controlling of the game gave freedom to other players.

He constantly took the ball off the defence of Kolo Toure, Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho and looked up to play the ball forward in both pressing and counter-attacking phases of the game.

This in turn allowed some rest for Liverpool’s back three, and meant both Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson could play a higher, more pressing game.

Jordan Henderson could play higher up the pitch on Saturday

Henderson, for example, made 27 of his 49 passes in the final third of the pitch, and should have scored on at least one occasion when he found himself lurking on the edge of the box.

Lucas’ positioning and trusted control of the pace of the game meant Liverpool could move forward with ease.

His 92 per cent passing accuracy from his 69 passes made him a reliable figure in the middle of the park.

The competition for Lucas’ place in Liverpool’s midfield has never been more fierce – with the likes of Henderson, Luis Alberto and Joe Allen all vying to start alongside Steven Gerrard there.

It is now important for Lucas to continue the level-headed performance he showed today.

He could just turn out to be the key between a resolute and an unbalanced Liverpool side.