BR: Joe's underrated, but he's key for us

The Wales international turned in an outstanding display against the reigning champions at Anfield, with his tenacity and energy in the middle of the park enabling the Reds' attack-minded players to flourish ahead of him.

It was Allen's fifth consecutive start and Rodgers believes that run in his line-up is allowing the 24-year-old to hit top form after a stop-start opening to 2014-15 due to injury.

"He is a very underrated player," said the boss while in conversation with journalists to preview Wednesday evening's encounter with Burnley.

"Joe was one of the first players I wanted to bring to Liverpool. He is not a player who comes off the bench and is going to score a winner, or a goal or anything like that, but his performance yesterday was incredible.

"When he first came in, he played against Manchester City [in August 2012] and a lot of the players probably weren't aware of his quality, but on that day he was outstanding.

"Yesterday, he was dominant in the game against a group of midfield players at Manchester City who are very talented. He's got so much courage to get on the ball.

"Joe is the type of player that needs games and he needs to be playing regularly for his qualities to be seen. Yesterday he broke up the game very well, he was very aggressive in his pressing and technically he is at a real high level.

"He allows other players to receive the ball. For Coutinho or Lallana to receive the ball, they need someone with the bravery to go and get it - Joe does that. He is an outstanding player and he'll show that over his years here."

Rodgers added: "With Joe it's been difficult because he's been injured a bit this year, so injuries have curtailed his availability and then once he played, he was maybe only coming in for a game or so.

"Once you see he has a run of games, he is a top-class player. I believe what we paid for him, in terms of the market now, was great value for us because he is a player that could be undervalued, but not by coaching staff or me as a manager because he's a player I rate immensely highly."

Another star to shine against City was Philippe Coutinho, whose rasping 75th minute strike secured all three points for Liverpool.

The Brazilian has captured the headlines in recent weeks with a series of outstanding displays and sublime goals.

Reporters gathered at Melwood were keen to quiz Rodgers on whether he felt his No.10 could have put himself in the running for some of the end-of-season accolades.

"He's certainly going to be up there, there's no doubt about that," was the manager's reply. "He's played very well.

"That period of the season where the team suffered at the beginning of the season, it was our lack of penetration at the top of the field. He's the player that thrives on that - he's normally the player that makes the last pass to those guys running in to score the goals.

"We didn't quite have that in the opening months, and obviously he suffered because he had to stay longer on the ball and wasn't as effective.

"Now, the dynamics in the team are very good - the pressing and movement off the ball - and that allows him and his technical quality to really shine. He's started to add goals to his game and has scored some fantastic goals.

"Very importantly, he is contributing to the team and for him there are still improvements to make with him being so young."

Next up for Liverpool is a home clash with Burnley, a side who currently sit 18th in the Barclays Premier League standings.

However, with a hard-fought encounter that the Reds edged 1-0 at Turf Moor on Boxing Day still fresh in the memory, Rodgers is aware of the threat the Lancashire side will pose to his team's 11-match unbeaten league sequence.

"Sean Dyche has done an incredible job at Burnley," he said. "He's a Premier League manager who is very talented.

"I am always impressed when I watch Burnley - I watch their work rate and they've gone away from home in big games and got good results. Collectively as a team, that's their strength.

"Sean has got them very well organised, they have great motivation when they play, great commitment to try and stay in the league and they're fighting. They're a team we're wary of.

"They've given absolutely everything and I'm sure Sean will be up there as one of the candidates for manager of the year, irrespective of what happens.

"They're a team that's always in it, they don't concede too many goals, are very organised, are a threat at set pieces, have some good players and want to press the game.

"They're a good side and will be pushing all the way right through until the end. It's a big game for them coming to Anfield on the back of losing at home at the weekend, but we're very focused on ourselves and creating problems for Burnley."