Lucas Leiva admits he came close to leaving Liverpool two years ago.

The Brazil midfielder concedes a deal for Christian Poulsen was the final straw for him.

He told liverpoolfc.com: "I felt as though it was almost the end for me at the club. I nearly left. I knew they were looking for players. They signed Christian Poulsen at the time, and that was a message for me, that I was not really in their plans. So I was really close to leaving to go to Italy. For some reason I did not go, I stayed.

"After a few games, I got my place back in the team and I started to play a bit more. Then Kenny came in. I really started to play with a lot of confidence and at the end of the year I was voted Player of the Season by the fans. So that moment was very important."