Liverpool’s Joe Allen vows to improve Reds goal record

Joe Allen admits he wants to create and to score more goals for Liverpool ahead of his return from a hamstring injury.

The Wales international hasn’t featured for the Reds since a 4-2 victory over Notts County in the Capital One Cup in August.

Allen, who moved to Liverpool in a £15m deal from Swansea last summer, has scored just two goals in 39 appearances for the Merseyside outfit.

But the 23-year-old hopes to be deployed in a more attacking role which can help the midfielder have more of an impact in front of goal.

“I can get involved more in the creative side, in assisting goals. That’s a big thing,” Allen told Liverpool’s website.

“If I have the chance to play further forward, like I did in pre-season, goals are obviously another big one that I’d like to add a bit more to my game.

“It’s something I felt was coming at Swansea, and last season sort of stopped a little bit. That’s something I think I can offer looking forward.

“I pride myself on that fact that I can play a couple of different roles, but that’s a role I have played more naturally and played the most throughout my career.

“Pre-season went pretty well after a long lay-off with the shoulder operation. I’m looking to take off where pre-season started.

“I’ve been pretty open – last year didn’t quite go as well as I would have hoped. There were certain games and moments where I did well; the key is to get that consistently.

“A lot of people have spoken to me, fellow players have said about moving to a different club for the first time. It is the first time I have experienced that.

“That’s out of the way now, so hopefully I’m a year on and a year more experienced because of that.”