You'll have plenty to celebrate when you subscribe to the Liverpool FC newsletter Sign me up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Joe Allen admits he’s playing for his future after entering the final 18 months of his Liverpool contract.

The Wales international impressed after being handed a rare start by Jurgen Klopp in Tuesday’s gutsy 1-0 win at Stoke in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final.

However, his long-term prospects remain uncertain with no offer of a new deal on the table.

There were some initial talks towards the end of last season with Brendan Rodgers keen to retain the services of the midfielder he brought with him from Swansea City for £15million in the summer of 2012.

But since Klopp replaced Rodgers in October there have been no further discussions and Allen has grown frustrated by a lack of game time.

Over the coming months he must either prove to Klopp he deserves a greater role or earn himself a move elsewhere.

Asked about contract talks, Allen said: “That is something which has gone very quiet.

“I am not too sure really. I have made only one league start this season and I want to play more, I think that is obvious for any player in that situation.

“From my point of view it is about knuckling down, doing my job and giving my best, which I always do.”

Allen relished his return to the starting line up at the Britannia Stadium as Klopp’s side bounced back following their abject league defeat to West Ham.

The 25-year-old, who capped arguably his most commanding display for the Reds by laying on the only goal for Jordon Ibe, believes it was the perfect response to the manager’s stinging criticism last weekend.

Our position in the table hurts us, we're better than that

“There were some frank words,” Allen said.

“As a team we needed to hear them I guess but this squad has great personalities and great character, players who want to work hard, so there is no issue there.

“We knew it would be a tough game, which makes it extra pleasing to get that clean sheet and go a goal ahead. The onus is on them to come to Anfield and take the game to us.

“It was a great game to be involved in. To come away a goal up was everything we wanted really.

“It shows what we are capable of. If you look at our position in the table as a club it hurts us because we are better than that. We have the self-belief we can do much better and I think this performance shows that.

“We knew we needed to respond with a good performance full of commitment and desire and we got that. There have been some disappointing results recently and the work is on now for us to get consistent and turn it around.

“Consistency is the key – you only have to look at a couple of great performances we’ve had this season and we are capable of that.

“You can’t be brilliant every game, no team is, but we have to make sure we get it consistent and get those bad performances out of the way.”

It was a remarkable collective effort considering Klopp’s injury crisis deepened with both Philippe Coutinho and Dejan Lovren suffering hamstring strains.

Liverpool now have 11 players sidelined ahead of Friday night’s tricky FA Cup tie at Exeter City.

“For us to lose Phil, such a key player for us, so early when we were on top and he was having a big influence could have hit us for six but to be fair we dealt with that,” Allen added.

“Dejan was having a great game and then he comes off but credit to Lucas. To slot into centre-half like that, which he’s done the last couple of games, was quality.

“That is when as a squad we have to come together and play our part.”