Article

Allen desperate to improve form

14 February 2013 13:37

Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen is looking to reverse a form slump in Thursday's Europa League first leg against Zenit St Petersburg.

The former Swansea man was a regular fixture under Brendan Rodgers following his 15-million-pound move, after following the Reds boss to Anfield from Wales, but has featured in just two of the last nine starting line-ups.

Allen said he has not been at his best recently, but has pinpointed Liverpool's tricky last-32 away tie against Zenit as a chance to prove his worth.

"My form hasn't been great, especially compared to the start of the season, but that is more down to myself," he told reporters.

"But I am looking forward to working hard and try to turn things around a little bit.

"I haven't played that much recently so any chance I get to participate then I'll be hoping to impress as much as I can and stake my claim.

"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."

Info

Zenit

W D L W D

2 - 0

Liverpool

W W D W D

Competition

Half-time: 0 - 0
Full-time: 2 - 0

On aggregate: 3 - 3

Venue: Stadion Petrovskij (Sankt-Peterburg (St. Petersburg))
Attendance: 19748

Goals

Hulk 69' (assist by I. Denisov)	1 - 0
S. Semak 72' (assist by A. Anyukov)	2 - 0

Lineups

#	Player	Bookings
16	V. Malafeev
2	A. Anyukov
6	N. Lombaerts
14	T. Hubočan	59'
13	Neto	83'
10	Danny
15	R. Shirokov
27	I. Denisov
28	A. Witsel
11	A. Kerzhakov
29	Hulk	69'
Coach: L. Spalletti

#	Player	Bookings
25	Pepe Reina
23	J. Carragher
2	G. Johnson
37	M. Škrtel	17'
3	José Enrique
19	S. Downing
8	S. Gerrard
24	J. Allen
14	J. Henderson
31	R. Sterling
7	L. Suárez
Coach: B. Rodgers

Substitutes

#	Player	Bookings
25	S. Semak for Danny 54'	72'
20	V. Faizulin for A. Kerzhakov 82'
94	A. Evseev
24	A. Luković
77	L. Đorđević
21	M. Rodić
30	Y. Zhevnov

#	Player	Bookings
21	Lucas Leiva for R. Sterling 78'
1	B. Jones
16	S. Coates
29	F. Borini
30	Suso
33	J. Shelvey
47	A. Wisdom

Thursday 23 May

05:27	Copa Libertadores Wrap: Santa Fe earn away win
05:24	Fiorentina reject Jovetic rumours
05:16	Piszczek set for post-season surgery
04:48	Adriano signs Barca extension
04:33	International Friendly: Venezuela 2 El Salvador 1
04:22	Bundesliga chief slams Qatar World Cup scheduling
03:52	Gignac wants Barton to stay
02:35	Ramsey, Walcott hail Wenger´s achievements
02:20	Loew regrets timing of German finale

Wednesday 22 May

20:56	Mourinho and Ronaldo given two-match bans
20:48	AFC Champions League Wrap: Lekhwiya hold on to progress
20:37	Thomas, Jara released by West Brom
20:16	Martinez to decide future
20:04	Pearce: Championship will not hold back McCarthy
19:05	Pulis: I understand Stoke´s decision
18:39	Vidic reflects on ´amazing´ season
18:17	Bale: Spurs will bounce back
17:56	Petrov to become academy coach at Aston Villa
17:56	De Laurentiis begins search for Mazzarri replacement
17:52	New York City FC appoint Reyna
17:50	Pardew: We should try emulate Liverpool
17:20	Ribery: Bayern stronger than Dortmund
17:04	Conte building for the future at Juventus
16:52	Bundesliga Play-off Preview: Hoffenheim v Kaiserslautern
16:52	Ibrahimovic coy on PSG future
16:33	Goetze to miss Champions League final
16:22	Giroud wants better European showing from Arsenal
16:07	Chelsea´s England players to leave tour early
16:05	Fiorentina capture Yakovenko
15:25	Pellegrini and Malaga to part company
15:04	Fulham sign Boateng
14:50	Green wants first-team football at QPR
14:12	Britton set for surgery
14:03	Neville interested in Everton job
13:42	Holloway: Brighton incident motivated Palace players
13:36	Rodgers confident of keeping Suarez at Liverpool
13:25	Eredivisie Preview: Twente v Utrecht
13:21	Etherington praises Pulis´ work at Stoke
13:17	Vlaar excited for new season at Aston Villa
12:01	Badstuber sidelined for 10 months after knee surgery
11:21	Clichy: Manchester City were right to sack Mancini
11:10	Cole set for West Ham departure
10:27	Lampard: It was tough under Benitez
10:11	Mourinho branded a ´failure´
06:44	Carroll out of England squad
05:37	Nasri throws support behind Pellegrini
05:07	Kewell unhappy with Australia omission
04:58	Messi: Neymar would be a wonderful addition
01:22	Doll: Dortmund are not underdogs

Tuesday 21 May

23:08	AFC Champions League Wrap: Seoul, Buriram, Al Ahli, Al Shabab advance
22:27	Pulis leaves Stoke
21:08	Sanogo relishing Arsenal move
21:05	Galtier signs extension at Saint-Etienne
20:32	Baines explains appearance record
20:28	Pulis future in doubt amid exit rumours
20:12	Swansea coach Tucker praises goalkeepers
19:25	West Ham sign Rat
19:10	McAuley eager to keep improving
18:43	Ribery keen to end career at Bayern
18:36	Reina plays down Barcelona speculation
18:20	De Boer agrees new Ajax deal
18:13	Sheffield United make McCall move
18:11	Heldt: Schalke interested in Santana
18:06	Messi urges Barcelona not to change
17:41	Manchester City agree MLS club deal with New York Yankees
16:57	Cech confident Chelsea will attract big names
16:48	Blackman urges Reading to be more ruthless
16:47	Montanier leaves Sociedad for Rennes
15:38	Rodgers pleased with Coutinho impact
15:30	Leonardo: Ibrahimovic and Silva to stay
15:08	Carroll thanks West Hams fans after loan spell
14:31	De Laurentiis confirms Dzeko interest
14:16	Wilshere dreams of England captaincy
14:14	Mourinho a ´scourge´ on Spanish football
14:02	Moratti will not rush decision on Stramaccioni´s future
13:43	Klopp warns Dortmund stars about leaving
12:44	Schneiderlin backs Southampton to improve
12:29	Podolski delighted with fourth spot
12:12	Sigurdsson targets improvement at Tottenham
11:17	Di Canio criticised by PFA chief
10:50	Steaua owner Becali jailed for three years
10:00	Hummels pledges future to Dortmund
09:46	Retiring Ferguson ´overwhelmed´ by recognition
09:31	J.League Preview: Top three expected to win
06:34	Argentine Primera Division Wrap: Tigre earn point at Lanus
06:21	Galtier wants Ancelotti to stay
06:09	Pique, Barca playing for record haul
04:41	Gazidis, Arsenal target silverware
03:17	Juan plots Inter redemption
03:08	Gibbs wants to build on strong finish
02:58	Racism will not drive out Drogba
02:28	Martinez coy on Wigan future
02:17	Fernandinho still seeking City switch
02:01	Roberto Carlos set to coach Sivasspor
00:13	Ferguson named LMA Manager of the Year

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