Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva is confident that his injury problems of the past two years are behind him.

The Brazilian missed the majority of the 2010-2011 campaign with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, before a thigh problem kept him out for three months last season.

However, the 26-year-old has revealed that he is feeling "50-60%" better ahead of the new campaign.

"I'm feeling 50-60% better than I was last season," he told the club's official website.

"The last six months I played were really important for me. I needed to get games and sessions, and this season now I'm feeling strong and feeling that I'm in the shape I was before the injury.

"Now I've got to improve the fitness and build confidence, but I'm really happy with the way pre-season has started."

Lucas joined the Reds from Gremio in 2007.

Written by
Matt Law