Steven Gerrard will be a successful coach at Liverpool, says Lucas Leiva

By Mark Crellin

Image: Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva celebrate a Liverpool goal

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva says he is sure former team-mate Steven Gerrard will be successful in his new role as coach of the club's U18 team.

Reds legend Gerrard retired from playing last year and, having returned to Anfield as an academy coach in January, he will take charge of the U18s ahead of next season, with Neil Critchley set to step up to the U23s.

Lucas knows Gerrard well and told Sky Sports News HQ: "I have been around at the academy a couple of times and he is very excited.

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"I think it is the best place for him at this moment, somewhere he can learn a lot.

"I am 100 per cent sure that he will have a lot of success, and good memories as well, because he is a guy who works really hard.

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"He is a role model - for me for a long time, and, for sure, for all the players who he will coach now.

"He is possibly the best man to show which way you have to go to be successful."

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Meanwhile, Liverpool are in the midst of a tight battle for a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Their next game is at Watford on Monday night (live on Sky Sports 1) and Lucas thinks they need four wins to be sure of Champions League football.

"All the sides have a chance," he said.

"We know we won't be top four if we don't win games - that is the pressure we have at this moment.

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"Of course, some teams will play each other, which means one or both will drop points, and we just have to do our best to win our next four games.

"If we win the next four games, I think the chance to be in the top four is likely, but you never know.

"We just have to win and see how it will end."

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