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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has praised the return of defensive midfielder Lucas Leiva ahead of the Brazilian defender’s comeback after a spell on the sidelines, just in time for the Reds’ final title push.
The 4-0 victory over Tottenham last weekend sent Liverpool top of the table although they could slip to second again when they face West Ham on Sunday should Chelsea beat Stoke the day before.
Leiva has been out since January after damaging knee ligaments in the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa, with Liverpool going 10 matches unbeaten since the stalemate at Anfield that has seen their rise to the summit.
The 27-year-old was on the bench for the 3-0 victory over Manchester United last month in which he managed to play the final four minutes, and Rodgers has praised the midfielder for his attitude during his enforced spell on the sidelines.
“I've got to say Lucas has been absolutely incredible in his attitude,” Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo . “It's been hard for him because he played a high percentage of the games when he was fit and obviously then got his injury.
Liverpool: The latest match picturesShow all 50 1 /50Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool: The latest match pictures Crystal Palace 3 Liverpool 3 Steven Gerrard shepherds Luis Suarez from the field as he cries at the end of the 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Crystal Palace 3 Liverpool 3 Martin Skrtel reacts after the 3-3 draw between Liverpool and Crystal Palace
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Crystal Palace 3 Liverpool 3 Luis Suarez adds a third immediately after Sturridge's goal, giving Liverpool a seemingly unassailable 3-0 lead
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Crystal Palace 3 Liverpool 3 Daniel Sturridge doubles Liverpool's lead as his deflected effort beat Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Crystal Palace 3 Liverpool 3 Joe Allen heads Liverpool into the lead as he converts a first-half corner
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2 Willian has the simplest of finishes to make it 2-0 for Chelsea
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2 Demba Ba celebrates his goal
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2 Demba Ba scores for Chelsea after Steven Gerrard's slip
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2 Steven Gerard and Jon Flanagan try to retrieve the ball from Jose Mourinho
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2 Tomas Kalas, on his Premier League debut, tackles Raheen Sterling
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Norwich 2 Liverpool 3 New Norwich manager Neil Adams salutes the crowd prior to kick-off
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Norwich 2 Liverpool 3 Raheem Sterling celebrates his opener with manager Brendan Rodgers
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Norwich 2 Liverpool 3 Raheem Sterling is challenged
Liverpool: The latest match pictures Norwich 2 Liverpool 3 Gary Hooper pulls a goal back for Norwich after a mistake by Simon Mignolet
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Norwich 2 Liverpool 3 Joe Allen challenges Robert Snodgrass for the ball
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Norwich 2 Liverpool 3 Raheem Sterling's shot deflects off Bradley Johnson and over John Ruddy to put Liverpool 3-1 ahead
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Norwich 2 Liverpool 3 Robert Snodgrass sets up a thrilling finale by heading a second Norwich goal
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Norwich 2 Liverpool 3 Liverpool players rush to celebrate with captain Steven Gerrard at the final whistle
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 3 Manchester City 2 Philippe Coutinho fires in Liverpool's winner
Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 3 Manchester City 2 David Silva pulls one back for Manchester City
Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 3 Manchester City 2 Martin Skrtel heads in Liverpool's second
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures West Ham 1 Liverpool 2 Steven Gerard leads Liverpool's celebration after scoring his second penalty of the afternoon
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures West Ham 1 Liverpool 2 Steven Gerard tries to chase down Mohamed Diame
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures West Ham 1 Liverpool 2 Raheem Sterling and Pablo Armero compete for the ball
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures West Ham 1 Liverpool 2 Liverpool players protest against Guy Demel's equaliser after Andy Carroll appeared to foul goalkeeper Simon Mignolet
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures West Ham 1 Liverpool 2 Steven Gerard celebrates after scoring his penalty
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures West Ham 1 Liverpool 2 Steven Gerard makes no mistake from the spot to put Liverpool ahead
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures West Ham 1 Liverpool 2 Luis Suarez forces James Tomkins into a hand ball and giving away a penalty
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures West Ham 1 Liverpool 2 Luis Suarez's chipped effort hits the bar
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures West Ham 1 Liverpool 2 Jordan Henderson clashes with Matthew Taylor
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures West Ham 1 Liverpool 2 Luis Suarez hits a free kick over the bar
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 4 Tottenham 0 Daniel Sturridge congratulates Jordan Henderson after the midfielder's goal
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 4 Tottenham 0 Philippe Coutinho fires in Liverpool's third
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 4 Tottenham 0 Brendan Rodgers looks on from the touchline
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 4 Tottenham 0 Luis Suarez of Liverpool celebrates the second goal against Tottenham
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 4 Tottenham 0 Younes Kaboul scores an own goal in the second minute
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1 Steven Gerrard celebrates with Jordan Henderson after opening the scoring
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1 Luis Suarez goes to ground after a clash with Lee Cattermole
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1 Ki Sung-Yueng pulled a goal back late on
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1 Jordan Henderson celebrates with goalscorer Sturridge
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1 Daniel Sturridge doubled Liverpool's lead via a deflection off Wes Brown
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1 Vito Mannone gets a hand to Gerrard's strike but is unable to keep it out
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1 Steven Gerrard gave Liverpool the lead with a free-kick
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Cardiff 3 Liverpool 6 Luis Suarez celebrates after completing his hat trick
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Liverpool: The latest match pictures Cardiff 3 Liverpool 6 Daniel Sturridge scores Liverpool's fifth of the afternoon
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“The team has done really well in his absence. Steven [Gerrard] in that role is a world-class operator. He has taken to it really well.”
Rodgers did concede that Leiva’s absence had allowed him to field a more attacking team in recent months, clearly demonstrated by the club’s goal tally this season of 88 in the league – eight more than their nearest competitors Manchester City.
“The difference now is that rather than playing with two defensive midfield players we are playing with one,” Rodgers added. “There is more emphasis on the attacking element. But I have to pay homage to Lucas because he's been first-class with his attitude and his work.
“He has made it known to me that he just wants to help whenever he's called upon - whether it's for one minute or 90 minutes he will be ready.”
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