LUCAS has spoken of his delight at securing a new long-term contract at Liverpool.

The Brazilian midfielder has put pen to paper on a new deal, which it is believed will keep him at Anfield until 2015, and says the club’s determination to secure his signature meant his decision was an easy one.

“For me it was an easy decision because I know how big Liverpool is and I can see Liverpool are committed to me and are planning for a future with me,” said the 24-year-old. “The effort from the club was amazing and that makes me feel an important player. That’s why it was an easy decision.

“I am really, really happy. The last few weeks have been really good for me and now I have signed a new contract and can spend more years at Liverpool I will do my best all the time and try to help the club to be bigger and bigger, if that’s possible.

Lucas believes the arrival of Kenny Dalglish as manager in January, plus the signings of strikers Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez, show the Reds are heading in the right direction after a fractuous 18 months at Anfield, and says he is determined to be a part of a new era on Merseyside.

“Everyone wants to be in the Champions League again and to win titles,” he added, “That is what Liverpool is about. The way everything is going I think it will be a very good next few seasons.

“We have some new players who have come here and that shows we are moving in the right direction. I am pleased with the way Liverpool tried to keep me and now I want to keep doing my best for them.

“I don’t think people thought I could stay here for so long, eight years, but now I want to just keep on improving.”