LIVERPOOL, Allen: "It will click"

© foto di Tommaso Loreto

Joe Allen reflected on Liverpool's hard-fought 1-1 draw against Sunderland on Saturday and insisted the Reds demonstrated enough commitment and quality to win the game.

The Wales international was as diligent as ever in the centre of the park for the visitors, taking more touches than any other player on the field and playing more passes.

And the 22-year-old believes that if the side keep moving the ball about and fashioning goalscoring opportunities, they are heading in the right direction to pick up their first win of the Barclays Premier League campaign.

"It will click," he told the Liverpool Echo. "We don't want to start making excuses and putting too much down to luck but there's definitely an element of that at the moment, you can't deny it.

"It seems to take the opposition one chance to get a goal. We keep plugging away and do everything right and it hasn't quite clicked at times. I'm confident it will and we're really looking forward to it happening.

"Sunderland are a tough team to play against, they gave everything and made it as difficult as possible for us to get back into it.

"But having said that, there were enough chances for us to have won the game. We controlled the game and the biggest positive is the spirit we showed after going behind.

"Nine times out of 10, you show spirit and commitment like that and you won't go too far wrong.

"The ability and quality is there."

The midfielder also took time out to praise the support the team received from travelling Liverpool fans on Saturday after an emotional week in which the Hillsborough Independent Panel released its report.

The Reds fans were in full voice from first minute to last and Allen's main regret is that the players could not take all three points back to Merseyside as a fitting tribute to their unwavering support.

"We wanted to do it for the fans," he said. "We spoke about that before the game. It's been a tough week for everyone and it's unfortunate we couldn't give the fans the three points.

"They gave us fantastic support until the end and they kept us going. It's disappointing we only got a point.

"It was a soft goal for us to give away and it's always tough to chase the game, especially away from home."

Raheem Sterling was one of Liverpool's stand-out performers as the winger continued his fine start to the season in the Reds' first team.

And Allen insisted the whole side are pleased with his dedication to the cause.

"You forget how young Raheem is, given the way he plays," said Allen.

"It's fantastic for him, and to continue right up to the 90th minute at that level is very impressive.

"The whole team are very proud of him."