Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson believes manager Brendan Rodgers should start using Brazilian Lucas Leiva, whilst he struggles with injuries.
The Reds have started the Premier League season poorly and lost three times already in their opening seven matches.
The 27-year-old has started just twice in the league and only appeared off the bench in one Champions League match this season, against Ludogorets.
Lawrenson, who played for the Anfield side between 1981 and 1988 and won 12 major honours, wrote in his Liverpool Echo column that Lucas Leiva should be playing.
The former Liverpool player said: “To be honest, I think the Reds boss should bite the bullet with Lucas. If the Brazilian had been chucked in against Basel, it would have made a difference.
“As a manager you have to manage. Injuries are part of the game, and everybody has a reason why things go wrong or right.
“The squad is there to be used and abused. That is why it is a squad, so you can pick and choose when to field players.
“For me, Lucas still has a part to play, even if it is only until Allen return but Rodgers clearly no longer trusts Lucas Leiva.”
