Allen: We've got a clinical edge now
Liverpool's increasingly clinical displays can go a long way to securing a positive ending to the season, midfielder Joe Allen believes.
The Reds' chances were often restricted during a hard-fought battle with Southampton in the Barclays Premier League on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
Yet they were still able to travel home to Merseyside in buoyant spirits, having recorded a superb 2-0 victory at St Mary's and moved up to sixth place in the standings.
Because Philippe Coutinho launched a memorable first-half screamer into the top corner and Raheem Sterling seized upon a loose ball in Saints territory to double their lead.
"A great result," was Allen's post-match description of the day's work to Liverpoolfc.com.
"We knew we had a real opportunity to get three more points while stopping rivals that are up there with us picking up points as well. It's a double bonus from that point of view.
"We have a more clinical edge now than we did at the start of the season. That's grown with our momentum and picking up points, it tends to happen that way.
"From a group point of view, we always knew despite the disappointments at the start of the season that it was going to turn around at some point.
"We would have wished it was earlier than it has been, but we've still got plenty of time left this season to really go on and achieve good things."
Between the strikes that earned maximum spoils on the south coast, Liverpool had to summon what is becoming typical resolve and steel to hold off the Saints.
In doing so, they clocked up a fifth straight clean sheet away from home in league football - the first time the Reds have achieved such a feat in three decades.
Allen said: "If there is any disappointment from the performance, it's probably that we could have been better in possession and kept the ball a little bit better and for longer at times.
"But in some ways it is a good way to show that we have got that resolve and we do whatever is necessary and whatever it takes to get the points.
"It's another clean sheet, which we're racking up now and earlier in the season was a big problem."
Coutinho's blistering drive in the third minute evoked memories of his similarly sublime shot from distance in the FA Cup at Bolton Wanderers earlier this month.
Allen was not surprised by the magic of his Brazilian colleague in the slightest. "It was unbelievable quality," he said.
"Technically, he is right up there with the best players I've ever played with and trained with.
"Along with the goal in the cup against Bolton, this one again just shows he can score world-class goals."