Liverpool fans booed their own player before comeback that left Steven Gerrard and Jurgen Klopp impressed

The reputation of Liverpool supporters as the team’s ‘twelfth man’ is long established and with good reason.

The vocal and emotional encouragement provided from the terraces and stands is often celebrated as a key factor in helping the Reds overcome seemingly insurmountable barriers both individually and collectively.

Liverpool’s unparalleled history can be seen as one of the club’s biggest blessings but also one of its biggest curses however as the Anfield crowd is one of the most demanding in the game and not normally slow in letting their heroes know if they don’t like what they’re seeing.

And for all that the values of collectivism and empathy many in the city like to pride themselves on have been reflected in the nature of the support the football team which carries its name has received, Liverpudlians can sometimes display a harsh, hostile face to their own as well as their opponents.

It is not just a modern day phenomena either with even a manager as successful as Bob Paisley once having to ask in his programme notes for the crowd to be more supportive when his side were going through a rare rough spell and there have been a number of players who have felt the ire of the Anfield faithful who love a whipping boy on occasion as much as any other crowd.

They also love a redemption story and there have been few more impressive ones than that of a young overseas player who joined the Reds early on in one of the most turbulent periods in Liverpool history and, having endured a tough beginning which saw him booed by his own supporters and further setbacks along the way, left ten years later with the thanks and admiration of many.

Lucas Leiva arrived at Anfield in the autumn of 2007 with a growing reputation as one of the