5 Reasons Reintroducing Joe Allen Could Be Vital For Liverpool’s Season

3. Performance

Brendan Rodgers has spoken candidly in recent weeks about Liverpool's failure to produce the performances he desires. Stating that he isn't just happy with results but that he also cares about performances on the whole - meaning he wants fresh and vibrant football accompanied by good results. If Rodgers wants a very specific type of football, namely possession based attack which pushes and pulls opposition defences from one side of the pitch to the other accompanied by strong and powerful counter attacks away from home or during periods of sustained opposition pressure, then he's going to have to reintroduce Allen because that style will be much more effective with a player who's truly comfortable playing it. Performances are just as important for results for the Ulsterman and bringing Allen back in may be his only chance to get both. Certainly with Allen in the team Rodgers has the potential for clever and patient possession ticked off and with Gerrard by his side in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 he also has the potential to fling a ball quickly forward to set up a lightning quick counter attack - this would be particularly effective with Sturridge's pace - thus, combining the two clearly gives Liverpool more strings to their proverbial bow. This of course raises the issue of how Lucas Leiva fits into such a system - with many Liverpool supporters questioning if Lucas has what it takes following his major injury problems in the last couple of years, least of all @DaveHendrickTLW.