Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen is looking forward to putting up a good performance in the Europa League after admitting his form has dipped in recent weeks.
The Reds will travel to Russia in the Europa League last-32 first leg tie to face Zenit Saint Petersburg on Thursday and Allen is hoping to impress if given the chance.
The 22-year-old has been signed by Brendan Rodgers for a reported fee of £15 million from Swansea in August and straightaway was drafted into the side, starting the Reds’ first 17 Premier League matches.
However, since the 3-1 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa, Allen’s performance has dropped considerably and has made only two first team appearances in nine games. Rodgers has virtually reinvented Jordan Henderson who experienced similar sort of dip in form the previous year, and has been playing regularly putting in tremendous performances in recent months.
The Wales international has admitted that his performance hasn’t been up to the mark. Joe Allen was quoted in the press:
“My form hasn’t been great, especially compared to the start of the season, but that is more down to myself.
“We were bitterly disappointed after Monday’s defeat to West Brom, that goes without saying, but we have this tie to look forward to and refocus.”
Liverpool have ambitions to finish in top four this season but after falling further off the pace in the Premier League with Monday’s home defeat to West Brom, the competition has taken extra significance.
In group stages of the competition, Rodgers rested key players like Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez in several matches, but both have travelled to Russia for this tie.
Rodgers has also expressed his concerns about the potential for racial abuse of his players can receive from the home fans but insists the duty of taking actions if necessary, belongs to the referee and UEFA officials and not his players.
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