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Few positions in world football have dominated the column inches like Liverpool's midfield department these past 12 months.
Last summer, the Reds spent the best part of £150m on thei midfield
Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch were all brought in
Both Moises tCaicedo and Romeo Lavia were chased before the pair moved to Chelsea.
This transfer window has again seen the Reds dealing with questions around their engine room
Having played at Liverpool for 10 years under as many as five different managers, few are as well placed to offer their expert insight into what it takes to make the grade in the Anfield midfield department as Lucas Leiva.
The Brazilian broke down what is needed and what he feels about the current crop at Arne Slot's disposal.
Lucas
"When a new manager comes it's always about changes.
“He will make changes for sure and the way he has prepared pre-season has been different, games will be different but also it's a new style of play.
“So the players have the challenge now to absorb this information as quickly as they can in the training sessions.
"Of course, with Jurgen Klopp they knew how he wanted them to play so it is different now, they need to get fit, get information and perform because everyone is waiting to see that.
“New ideas always improve you if you listen and put it into the games. Always they are good and I think the players are receiving it in a good way.
“Of course, there will be some moments when the routine changes and they will get a little bit uncomfortable at the beginning but players are used to changes with national teams and they have to adapt quickly to new routines and managers, so that will be the case.
"For the young players, I think it will be good because it comes with a new manager, new ideas of football and just helps them to improve as players. if they see it this way it will be an important season."
Lucas added
"I played under five managers at the club, so quite a lot and there were some very difficult moments.
“First of all Liverpool midfielders, you need to give your all, everything you have, because the fans expect that.
“Now with Jurgen, [a midfielder] was a player that had to be very intense, you had to be mobile and win the ball back as quickly as possible, don't stay in that position really, he used to give freedom to move and change positions.”
"With Arne, I think my position as a whole, it will be a player with more discipline I would say as a holding midfielder, starting everything from the back and being the link between centre-back and attacking midfielders and players.”
“So there are different ideas but all the players Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott, Dom Szoboszlai, they have the ability to do that.
“With Szoboszlai it's important he scored a fantastic goal between the lines [against Real Betis], having a run and it was something we're going to see a lot of this season.
“So, yes, you must have everything to play for Liverpool really."
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