Joe Allen.

Welsh Midfielder Joe Allen was one of Brendan Rodgers' first acquisitions, now three years later, many fans are wondering what he actually offers to the team. Allen signed on the backdrop of a successful performance for team GB at the Olympics where he played an effective role in guiding Team GB to the quarter finals where they were knocked out by South Korea leading fans to welcome the capture of the proclaimed 'Welsh Xavi'. The midfielder has become somewhat of a scapegoat, especially considering his £15 million move from Swansea which has seen him criticized consistently for his constant disruption of play which has led to many critics highlighting his ability in passing the ball backwards.

Joe Allen seems to be in and out of the Liverpool first team relying on more first team creative players being injured, Brazilian magician Phillipe Coutinho has excelled since his move from Inter
Milan becoming a firm fan favourite, while Joe Allen has played second fiddle to the younger star. The accusation of Adam Lallana for £25 million last summer led many to believe Joe Allen would be a major bit part player but with injuries for the englishman coupled with the wider range of fixtures Allen made 32 appearances yet tallied a rather measly 1 goal compared to his other midfield partners in the premier league.

Player	Appearances (Premier league)	Goals (Premier league)	Assists (Premier league)
Philipe Coutinho	32 (Starts) 3 (Sub)	5	5
Emre Can	23 (Starts) 4 (Sub)	1	0
Jordan Henderson	36 (Starts) 1 (Sub)	6	9
Adam Lallana	23 (Starts) 4 (Sub)	5	3
Steven Gerrard	25 (Starts) 4 (Sub)	14	1
Joe Allen	16 (Starts) 5 (Sub)	1	0
Lucas Leiva	16 (Starts) 4 (Sub)	0	0

Looking at the table its easy to see why Joe Allen has struggled to become a mainstay in the team and easy to notice how Lucas Leiva has suffered a similar fate however he can be forgiven due to Steven Gerrard occupying his favoured position and himself being a naturally defensive player. Joe Allen however seems to possess a 'blankness' about him almost as if you are unaware of his presence on the field, Joe Allen is clearly a footballer Brendan Rodgers rates highly and the Welshman has never looked likely to leave the club, but in this new era at Liverpool where sacrifices must be made (you only have to look at Rodgers' coaching staff for evidence) you have to wonder whether Liverpool would be better selling Allen, especially if they want to attract top talent. Having too many options in midfield is a nightmare every manager would like, but in this scenario Liverpool seem to possess too many midfielders that simply do not fit into the style of the team or are simply not good enough for the team. 

Does Joe Allen belong at Liverpool?

Yes, he's a key player!

Yes, he's a great back up!

No, he isn't good enough!

Not Sure, depends on who we sign in the transfer window