How do you solve a problem like Lucas Leiva?
Liverpool came storming out of the blocks against defending Premier League champions Leicester City (it still feels very strange to write that) as they found the back of the net twice in impressive fashion.
Roberto Firmino opened the scoring for the Reds at Anfield as he toyed with the Foxes’ defence, making Robert Huth look foolish before reversing the play and slotting it calmly past Kasper Schmeichel.
Sadio Mane then went one better as he finished off a brilliant Liverpool move by getting onto the end of Daniel Sturridge’s heel flick and chipping it past the oncoming Danish keeper.
Liverpool are not even four full league games into the season but it’s already been an up-and-down year for them, and so that trend continued.
Jurgen Klopp’s men looked to be in complete control of the game, holding a two-goal advantage at home and playing some seriously slick football.
But it was their desire to play a passing game which unlocked their defence, as Lucas Leiva gifted a goal to Jamie Vardy.
It all started when Simon Mingolet played a short pass from a goal kick out to the Brazilian.
Rather than look to play it upfield, Lucas goes to move inwards but takes a very heavy touch, allowing a Leicester player time to rush him.
Lucas panics. Instead of booting it clear, he passes the ball directly across his own goal to no one.
Then came the inevitable conclusion of what every football coach we’ve ever had told us would happen if we played a ball across our own goal.
Ever the poacher, Jamie Vardy taps the finish past Mignolet and Leicester are back in the game.
Fans watching at home were full of sympathy for the Liverpool player, who allowed a moment of panic to cost his team dearly.
There was an outpour of support for the midfielder to show him that despite making a mistake in front of millions of people, everyone understood that it could happen to any of us if we were forced to live out our regular workday in front of a live crowd of thousands of people and with the knowledge that cameras were broadcasting our every move into homes in seemingly every country on Earth.
Just kidding, the mocking began instantly.
Fans of other teams began sharing an old Lucas tweet that seemed pretty relevant.
Sorry Anfield
— Lucas Leiva (@LucasLeiva87) January 11, 2012
And old clips of the Reds player were dug up too.
— Liam Stoker (@LiamStoker) September 10, 2016
— CC (@Cunnginham) September 10, 2016
Let’s be honest, the quality of the pass was never in doubt. If it had been at the other end, we’d be praising it now.
That was amazing from Lucas. What an assist.
— JD (@JD82__) September 10, 2016
For Liverpool fans, there was a mix of anger and disappointment.
https://twitter.com/CoutinhoFlair/status/774659747916251136
HT. Good half until Lucas decided he wanted to see how the team could walk with a bullet in its foot.
— Diana Kristinne (@DianaKristinne) September 10, 2016
What on earth is up with Lucas? @LFC playing great football and now they donate a goal to @LCFC. We do sometimes make our lives difficult
— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) September 10, 2016
https://twitter.com/Jay_78_/status/774655793069195264
