His understated importance to the Liverpool cause was clear to see in Sunday’s victory at West Bromwich Albion but whether Lucas Leiva is still around at Anfield to enjoy the spoils of possible Champions League qualification is something not even the player himself knows.

Lucas, speaking in the wake of Liverpool’s 1-0 success at the Hawthorns, said that talk about his future was on hold until the summer as he focuses his attention on helping the team’s push for a top-four finish. The 30-year-old has underlined his worth once more in recent months, filling in both at centre-back and also as in the holding-midfield role vacated by injured captain Jordan Henderson.

Whether it will be enough to earn him a new contract, though, remains to be seen. Lucas, who has 12 months remaining on his current deal, said: “I don’t really know what will happen. I just need to focus on the last five games.

West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings Show all 22 1 /22 West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings Ben Foster - 6 out of 10 Caught out of possession for the Liverpool goal. Largely reliable for the rest of the game. Showed his audacity in stoppage time by heading forward as West Brom chased an equaliser. West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings Craig Dawson - 6 out of 10 Solid all-rounded defensive display. West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings Gareth McAuley - 6 Held his shape well alongside Evans but struggled at times to keep Firmino under wraps. West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings Jonny Evans - 5 Guilty of a number of reckless fouls that heaped unnecessary pressure on his own side. West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings Chris Brunt - 6 His foul on Origi handed Liverpool the free-kick from which Firmino scored. A foolish and reckless decision which tainted an overwise solid performance. West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings Jake Livermore - 6 Another West Brom player who was a bit too liberal in his challenges. West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings Claudio Yacob - 5 Drifted in and out of the game. Resilient and stubborn though. West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings Darren Fletcher - 6 Never stopped running to his credit but was unable to properly influence the game. West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings Matt Phillips - 6 A nuisance early on but faded away. West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings Hal Robson-Kanu - 6 Did his best to keep the Liverpool defence on their toes with his running and movement. Missed a huge opportunity to equalise late on in the game though. Not clinal enough. West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings Nacer Chadli - 5 Started brightly with a number of testing deliveries into the box but drifted out of the game as it wore on. Missed an absolute sitter from three yards out in the first half. West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings Simon Mignolet - 7 A relatively quiet game for him. Asserted himself well under West Brom's set-piece balls. Called upon 10 minutes before the final whistle to deny West Brom an equaliser with fantastic one-on-one save. West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings Nathaniel Clyne - 6 Got well forward and proved to be a nuisance for the home side defence. West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings Dejan Lovren - 6 Not his most rounded of performances. A number of sloppy passes let him down throughout the game. West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings Joel Matip - 7 Had the chance to double Liverpool's lead with a close-range headed but fluffed his lines. Enjoyed his battles at the back with Hobson-kanu. West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings James Milner - 6 Deliveries were very hit and miss today. Grew into the game though. West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings Georginio Wijnaldum - 6 Stuck to the basics as he kept Liverpool's midfield ticking over. West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings Lucas - 6 Saw plenty of the ball and although a number of mistakes let him down on occasion, it was a solid afternoon of football for him. West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings Emre Can - 8 Industrious and aggressive all game long. Fought hard in his battles and played a crucial role in breaking up play. West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings Firmino - 7 Took his goal well, demonstrating his abiltiy to read the game. Kept the West Brom defence busy all game. West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings Divock Origi - 7 Threatened with his weaving runs and won his side a number of free-kicks in dangerous areas. Quiet first half but proved to be a valuable asset. West Brom vs Liverpool player ratings Philippe Coutinho - 8 The main thrust and drive of Liverpool's forward game. Created a number of chances for his team-mates and dazzled himself with his quick feet.

“The last few games I’ve played I feel very good. I’ve played centre-back and midfield, so I give some options to the manager and when he needs me, I always try to deliver. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but that happens with everyone. There’s no doubt about my commitment to Liverpool, I just need to wait until the end of the season, work hard and make a decision together with the club.”

Lucas has a strong relationship with Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, who appreciates the contribution that the club’s longest-serving player makes behind the scenes as well as on the pitch. In January, Klopp described the Brazilian as “a great personality, a good player and a really wonderful guy” when explaining that Lucas would not be joining Internazionale, amid interest from the Italian club in a loan move.

It is understood that Liverpool’s recognition of the player’s decade-long service means they would not stand in his way if an attractive long-term offer materialised from elsewhere. Equally, though, the club value what the 30-year-old, signed by Rafa Benitez in 2007, brings to the cause.

“I’ve been here long enough and if the time comes for me to go somewhere else I think I will leave with the feeling that I did everything I could,” Lucas added. “I think we’ll agree something good for both of us and then see. I would love to give the answer 100 per cent but unfortunately I can’t.”

Lucas did a fine job on his ninth league start of the campaign at the Hawthorns on Sunday, helping to protect Liverpool’s back four and break up play and, at 30, he still believes he should be playing regularly. “I’m getting to the stage of my career where I think I can help a lot, off the pitch of course, but on the pitch as well. I wouldn’t like to just be around – I am 30, I am not 35, 36. I feel I have many years that I can still play at the top level. I need to analyse and see what is best for me and the club and then I am sure we will make a decision together.”

First, of course, is the task of securing Champions League qualification and Lucas is optimistic after Sunday’s gutsy victory for third-placed Liverpool – a victory which highlighted Simon Mignolet’s improvement in goal and the strength of a Liverpool squad missing Henderson, Sadio Mané and Adam Lallana.