Lucas Leiva once said ‘incredible’ Liverpool talent was not given a fair chance by Brendan Rodgers

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Brendan Rodgers had a fair few stars who he let slip through the net. The Reds have not always had the star-studded team they have today, with many of their first-team squads in the past only having a few recognised names.However, looking back now, they had quite a few who turned out to be superstars, they just were not given a fair crack of the whip during their time at Anfield.Join our newsletter for news & smart analysis.

There is one in particular who went on to have a pretty impressive career, with Lucas Leiva reuniting with him elsewhere.The Brazilian also once said that he felt Brendan Rodgers never gave this star a chance to properly prove himself, with it perhaps a mistake given what he has gone on to achieve.Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesLuis Alberto was not given a fair chance at Liverpool, says Lucas LeivaLuis Alberto arrived with a bit of promise in 2013, but he never went on to reach the heights many thought he would.He played just nine games in one season, with the Spaniard being loaned out for the other two years before leaving, with it, at the time, looking like he was another player who would flop.However, his career took off once he left and he became a bit of a Lazio legend, where he played with ex-Red Lucas.While playing with him in Italy, the Brazilian admitted that Alberto was not given a fair chance, with Liverpool really missing out on what he could have added.“He was very young when he came to Liverpool like I was when I arrived,” Lucas said to The Athletic in 2022.“Probably he didn’t have the luck I had in having a manager who could maybe have been a bit more patient with him.“The quality was always there and he had to go (on loan) to Spain (at Malaga and Deportivo La Coruna) to get more experience. Then he moved to Lazio and his first year wasn’t easy.

But afterwards, he just found himself.READ MORE: Ian Rush once explained why he ‘didn’t like’ Kenny Dalglish when first met him at Liverpool“He could show his qualities and has been one of the best players in the league the last few years. His quality in the final third is incredible.”How did Luis Alberto get on after leaving Liverpool?The Spaniard went on loan to Malaga and Deportivo La Coruna in his last two years contracted at Liverpool, succeeding at both.This got him a move to Lazio, with the Reds making a loss by selling him for €4m (£3.5m), with this proving to be a terrible piece of business all round.He made matters worse by becoming a legend for the club, scoring 52 goals and assisting 79 in just over 300 games.Although at the time Liverpool fans may not have cared for his departure, his career does suggest that he could have been great if given the chance, meaning it is another thing Rodgers got wrong during his tenure.