Tough owners may have axed boss – Allen

Indeed, the Reds may view the last two years as a massive missed opportunity to have secured silverware under Brendan Rodgers, having come so close to landing the Premier League title in 2013/14 and disappointing at the semi-final stage of last season’s FA Cup. Allen has urged his teammates to start the next season on a high in order to avoid last season’s disappointment. It’s up to us to get back to the levels we know we can reach.

“I don’t think I’ve ever played in conditions quite like that”.

“He’s got all the traits and the profile of what we would want as a player – he works very, very hard, he’s a talented player and someone we feel can score goals for the team. I’m really excited and looking forward to him coming in”.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has stated that Roberto Firmino has not been signed as a direct replacement for Raheem Sterling.

“He can play on any one of the sides, he play can through the middle or he can play in behind”.

However, the owners stuck by their man – although coaches Colin Pascoe and Mike Marsh were less fortunate – and the Northern Irishman, who Allen has been with since their Swansea days, will be the man to lead us into the new season.

But fitness was not the only concern, the Liverpool boss continued – as he revealed that he used the fixture to analyse the Reds’ tactical efficiency.

The forward completed his big-money move to the Etihad earlier this week, bringing an end to one of the summer’s longest-running transfer sagas.

“These are the challenges that we’ll find throughout our Premier League season. I thought the players adjusted and adapted very well to that”.

The Reds will square off against A-League sides Brisbane Roar and Adelaide United in the space of four days, starting with the game against Brisbane Roar tomorrow.

“When we come here to Thailand we always get a wonderful reception”, Rodgers stated. There is not too many clubs that have that pull and that support. “There was a good atmosphere for a pre-season game and everyone got 45 minutes which is going to help us”, he added. “Players and staff alike have been putting in the effort to ensure we start this season well”.