'We still have plenty to play for'
Liverpool's chances of winning a trophy in 2013 were wiped out by Zenit St Petersburg last night – but midfielder Joe Allen says the football club has plenty left to play for this season.
The Welshman struck his second Reds goal minutes before half-time as Brendan Rodgers' team mounted a remarkable comeback against the Russian champions at Anfield.
Allen and co could not muster a crucial fourth strike to secure progress into the Europa League last 16, but the 22-year-old believes there are positives to consider.
He told Liverpoolfc.com: "It was extremely disappointing. You score, win the second tie 3-1 and still don't go through - it's pretty hard to take.
"The scoreline showed how much effort we put into the game and on another day we might have done enough to go through.
"The intensity of our performance, and the will and determination to try everything we could to get through, was evident.
"It's hard to look at the positives at this moment but when we look back I'm sure we will.
"We approach every game between now and the end of the season to try and get as many points as we can and get ourselves as high a position in the table as we can.
"There might not be a trophy to play for but there's plenty for us as a football club to play for and we'll do that."
In the build-up to the second leg, Liverpool players and staff had urged fans to produce yet another special atmosphere at Anfield and become the all-important 12th man.
They didn't disappoint and Allen explained how that support boosted the team on the pitch.
"It made all the difference," he added.
"When you've got an environment for opposition to come and play in like that, and support for yourselves as strong as that, it really gives you a lift and helped us to almost get there."