Joe Allen Still Has His Doubters, but Liverpool Right to Offer New Deal

Liverpool have reportedly opened talks over a new contract for midfield Joe Allen.

The Welshman has just over two years left on his current terms but he is a player whom Brendan Rodgers wants to keep for the long-term, writes Dominic King of the Daily Mail.

Allen joined Liverpool in Brendan Rodgers' first summer at the club, following the new manager from Swansea City for £15 million.

It's been a somewhat mediocre two-and-a-half years on Merseyside for the Welshman so far, but perhaps this past fortnight has seen his worth realised by those unsure over his ability.

Man City, Burnley, Blackburn

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Liverpool have just arrived off the back of three home games in eight days, defeating Manchester City 2-1, Burnley 2-0, and drawing 0-0 with Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup.

Those first two games saw Allen hugely impress in centre midfield alongside Jordan Henderson, with his performance against champions City in particular drawing praise.

Writing for This Is Anfield, Jack Lusby praised Allen's "dominant, intelligent performance."

Allen followed that City showing with another solid display in the professional team performance against Burnley.

Alas, after six starts in a row—his longest consecutive run in the side December 2013—Allen picked up a hip injury in training prior to the Blackburn match, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.

That meant a change in personnel, with Emre Can forced into moving into midfield with Lucas Leiva and Steven Gerrard also sidelined.

Can performed okay, but much like the rest of the team, failed to find the form that has been so present in recent weeks after an exhausting run of games.

The Blackburn game showed though that Liverpool missed Allen—something not many would have anticipated saying a few weeks ago prior to Lucas' injury.

Consistency

Steve Bardens/Getty Images

What's interesting is that Allen's improved form in this recent spell of six starts was the first time in his Liverpool career that he's been paired in centre midfield alongside Henderson, with Steven Gerrard not in the side.

It is perhaps no coincidence that both Allen and Henderson have prospered without their captain alongside them, being forced to take responsibility themselves and not look to Gerrard for inspiration.

The problem Allen has always faced is his lack of consistency; either due to injuries, or the presence of Gerrard in midfield.

This recent run of six starts in a row has only been bettered once in his time at Liverpool, when he started nine games in a row between September and October 2012.

If Allen is to push on, he needs to be staying fit for longer and able to make one position his own. The centre-midfield role within a 3-4-2-1 seems to suit him best.

Although, arguably his best spell for the club was towards the end of last season when he was used as one of the two midfielders on the side of the midfield diamond. Allen started the 3-0 wins at Southampton and Manchester United and eight of the Reds' final 11 Premier League games as they pushed for the title.

Squad Player

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Perhaps though it's Allen's ability to come into the side in such situations that works in his favour. He's an effective squad player who for all his doubters performs steadily whenever called upon.

Allen's strengths are as a continuity player, doing the simple things that often go unnoticed and allowing others space to prosper.

One area he could do with improving is his goalscoring ratio—three goals in 87 appearances isn't good no matter what role you play in midfield.

It is though easy to forget that Allen is still relatively young at 24 years old and still has room for development ahead of him.

Liverpool are a club who seek to compete for titles and trophies and they need players of Allen's quality around the squad. He isn't one to complain about being a squad player and does a steady job when called upon.