Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva says the early struggles he endured at Anfield ultimately helped him become a better player.

The 25-year old revealed that he thought his Liverpool career was over before it had even begun after failing to impress in his first season.

Liverpool fans were largely unconvinced by the Brazilian when he arrived at the club in 2007 and it took the defensive midfielder a couple of seasons before he won the fans over.

He told the club’s official website: “It was hard for me when I came, I was a young boy and had no idea about the Premier League, the way football was played here, the culture, the city,” the 25-year-old said. “Everything was a big change for me.

“Many times I thought maybe my life here was finished but I always felt something different that told me to keep going, to keep trying to change the opinions, and I think people started to realise the work I was putting into the games.

“Maybe it was not working how I wanted or how you wanted, but as soon as people started to realise I was trying everything I could, people started to give me more credit. That’s when I felt everything was changing.

“That period made me stronger and made me realise where I was. Every day of my life I try to give my best for this club, because I really know how big this club is and how much people, the supporters, expect.”

There are players in the current side such as Raheem Sterling and Jonjo Shelvey, who face similar issues to Lucas when he first arrived. He hopes he can help the young players in the current side through what is a tough introduction to the Premier League.

He said: “I see criticism of young players and sometimes I feel it’s a bit unfair because if you’re young, you have ups and downs. Nobody is a top player at 18 or 20. There are only a few who can say that.

“I just try to be around and tell them what I went through.

“Confidence is 50 or 60 per cent of the game. If you have confidence you try more.”

There are two standout answers here: Norwich away, our only League win; and Man United at home, despite the result. We haven’t been playing badly despite our lack of results but the United performance was particularly encouraging. We dominated the game despite being down to 10 men for over half of it. Bringing on Suso at half-time showed a massive amount of guts by Rodgers and a readiness to use youngsters rather than some of the more established players who haven’t been performing.

Away from the League, the performance at West Brom in the League Cup was particularly pleasing. A massively inexperienced team went behind early on but showed superb maturity to come back into the game, dominate and get the victory. That match could be looked back upon the night our youngsters showed they are good enough and a new era began.

The opening day at West Brom was a massive, massive disappointment. Talk about throwing optimism out of the window.

But we didn’t play too badly until going behind and then everything that could go wrong, did. We never got going against Arsenal at home, hopefully the manager learnt the lesson of playing certain players in the Europa [League] just three days earlier.

Generally pleased and encouraged. He certainly talks a good game and supporters are prepared to give him the time he needs to make a mark on the club.

Our early season results are somewhat irrelevant. He’s already got us playing good football in possession. The only concerns are the leaky defence with changing style and tactics, hopefully attention can be placed there and we see improvements. I’d love to win a game 1-0.

Has to be Raheem Sterling. I don’t remember the last time any 17-year-old made such an impression in the Premier League. He plays with spirit, maturity and balance.

He doesn’t just provide an attacking outlet, he also does his work for the team. Again though, he wouldn’t have been able to if Rodgers hadn’t been so brave to start him against Man City – ahead of Downing and Co. A mention also for Joe Allen, who has walked into the team seamlessly; remember he’s only 22 too.

Difficult to say. Obviously Reina has had his fair share of mistakes. Skrtel has thrown a few errors in there too. But neither is necessarily our ‘worst player’.
I expect we will dominate many games but not particularly finish teams off when we ‘should’. It’s been a problem for more than just this season; not scoring when we are on top, then allowing the opposition in later on. We’ll finish top eight and by blooding youngsters we’ll be in a better shape than we were last May. I’d rather finish 8th using Sterling, Suso, Shelvey and co, than finish 6th using Henderson, Carroll, Enrique and co.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission [IPCC] have announced the launch of an investigation into a “large number” of officers regarding their conduct before, during and after the Hillsborough disaster.

The IPCC has revealed that the investigation could lead to criminal charges including manslaughter, perverting the course of justice and perjury.

South Yorkshire Police and then-chief inspector, Sir Norman Bettison, were recently referred to the commission, whilst West Midlands police, who led the subsequent botched investigation, put themselves forward.

And their actions in the period surrounding the disaster, including the attempted cover-up, will now be subject to a full inquiry run in conjunction with the Director of Public Prosecutions.

An IPPC statement claimed the Hillsborough Independent Panel’s recent report into the tragedy: “Raise[d] serious and troubling questions about the actions of many parties, individuals and institutions, both in the public sector and outside it. Some of the disclosures raise potential criminal offences.”

The role of police in the dissemination of false information about fans’ role in the disaster is set to come under particular scrutiny, as is the negligence which led to the deaths of 96 people.

The investigation, which will be the largest ever conducted into police actions in the UK, is set to cover two broad categories in particular.

They are summarised by the IPCC as: “Allegations that go to the heart of what happened at Hillsborough on 15 April 1989, that individuals or institutions may be culpable for the deaths.”

And: “Allegations about what happened after the disaster, including that evidence was fabricated and misinformation was spread in an attempt to avoid blame.”

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has welcomed the investigation, telling the club’s official website: “This is another significant step forward in the campaign for justice for Hillsborough families and survivors.

“We will follow the progress of this investigation and remain resolute in our support of the families and survivors as they continue with their battle to bring those responsible for the tragedy to justice.”

Bettison, 56, recently announced his intention to retire in March on a full pension, though his rights to that financial package would be withdrawn should he be found guilty of any criminal charges brought against him.