Joe Allen: Liverpool FC’s potential answer to Xabi Alonso

Is Joe Allen the missing piece in Brendan Rodgers’ puzzle?

So, it appears that the transfer saga over Joe Allen will continue on into the summer, with Liverpool already having multiple bids rejected for the Welshman.

It’s easy to see why Brendan Rodgers wants him: his distribution is really good, and he covers a lot of ground during matches. He is really dynamic and has really strong attributes in three key areas of midfield – passing, tackling and shooting.

• He had a 48% shooting accuracy last term (when compared to Liverpool players, he is second behind Gerrard, who hits a shot on target 52% of the time
• He had a passing accuracy of 91%, and this is one of the best in Europe for players who played more than 20 games. (highest when compared to LFC midfielders)
• He covers a lot of ground and makes interceptions and tackles as well. He made a successful tackle every 35.3 minutes last season. (Liverpool’s best was Lucas at 20.1, but Allen comes in at second compared to other LFC players)

Now, I want to show you guys a lineup that Liverpool had in the 2008/09 season.

What I’m trying to say with this lineup is that this is essentially what Brendan Rodgers is aiming for. For now, ignore the defence (and Carragher in particular, because I am not suggesting he should play on the right side of the defence). Instead, look at the midfield and attack.

Brendan Rodgers likes to operate in a 4-3-3 system, this being the archetype ‘Tiki-taka’ set-up. The ’09 Liverpool FC was set up as a 4-2-3-1, but the principles are almost identical. The two out wide essentially just need to be adjusted to play slightly further up as forwards, whilst the attacking midfielder is the link between the attack and the midfield. So it is almost exactly what Brendan Rodgers is striving for.

And here’s where Joe Allen fits in. With Lucas Leiva returning and Gerrard showing good form at the Euro 2012 competition, Liverpool are still missing that ‘Xabi Alonso’ type player in their team. Someone who can distribute, put through balls to set strikers through on goal, and one who provides Charlie Adam-esque passes (although with a far higher success rate).

Lucas Leiva is essentially our contemporary Javier Mascherano. He is as good as, if not better, than the Argentinian midfielder. He covers a lot more ground and is great with standing tackles and interceptions.

We still have Steven Gerrard around, the one who is capable of doing wonders when he plays further up the pitch. He’s the all-action central midfielder who can play anywhere on the field, although he would definitely play better when given a central attacking role. So nothing changes there.

However, we have lacked a calm and patient midfielder who waits and finds the gaps in opposition defences. Joe Allen is that midfielder. Ideally, Jordan Henderson could fill in this gap, but I still don’t think that he can impose himself as a figurehead in the midfield to be in our first XI yet.

At 15 million pounds, Joe Allen would represent a great investment, considering that he already knows what Brendan Rodgers demands of his players and simply because he is almost a like-for-like replacement for Xabi Alonso. He would be a great buy for the Reds if they can get him to lower his wage demands, and I think this is why Liverpool should continue their pursuit of the Team GB star.