Liverpool youngster Lucas Leiva is hopeful he will one day be as good as his club captain Steven Gerrard.

The Brazilian midfielder has impressed in a central partnership with Gerrard over recent weeks as Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez rotates his options. Lucas insists he still has a lot to learn, but the 20-year-old believes he is perfectly placed to develop alongside Gerrard.

"Stevie and I are different players. I am younger and I am still learning and he is helping me a lot," Lucas told Liverpool's official website.

"I am happy to be playing because I can learn from players like Stevie. It is fantastic to play alongside him because he is one of the best players in the world.

"Hopefully, one day I will be as good as he is but that is a long way away.

"When I play in midfield with him I have to play more of a holding role because he can go forward, create chances and score goals himself.

"Hopefully, when I have played more games and got more confidence I can go forward more myself."