Joe Allen Cites Players' Hunger as Reason for Liverpool's Form

Joe Allen claims Liverpool's performances and ruthlessness in front of goal are because the players are more hungry for success this season.

Brendan Rodgers' side are second in the Premier League table with 59 points from 28 matches and trail leaders Chelsea by seven points. The Reds are the top league scorers with 73 goals and are still in contention for the league title.

The Welsh international also hailed the impact of the club's attacking trio of Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling who have cumulatively netted 48 goals in the league so far. However, the major chunk of the total comes from Suarez and Sturridge, with 24 and 18 goals respectively.

"You can really see the determination throughout the whole squad. Every single player is giving everything to get the required results. You see the hunger when we go forward - the amount of players we get arriving in the box looking to get on the scoresheet shows that great desire," Allen told the Liverpool Echo.

"The difference this year to last year is incredible really. The combinations since the first game of this season have been spot on. We talked a lot last year about the ideas we were working on and at times things didn't quite click. But we knew with the work we were putting in it would all come together and you can see that this season.

"That's the reason, along with the quality of our strike force, why we are scoring so many goals. With Suarez, Sturridge and Sterling, we have plenty of pace and the combinations and link up play is scaring every defence.

"Defenders certainly know before every game that they will be in for a tough ride and our strikers never disappoint," he added.

Allen also lauded Simon Mignolet's performance in the Merseyside club's last league fixture against Southampton at the St Mary's Stadium where they emerged victorious by 3-0.

With the score at 1-0, the goalkeeper saved Jay Rodriguez's shot to deny the Saints an equaliser, minutes before half-time.

"It was an incredible save from Simon. We spoke about that save in the dressing room after the game. It was a massive moment. If Southampton had equalised at that point the outcome could have been different," the midfielder concluded.