Liverpool's Allen hails Reds' striking options

06 August 2013 18:31

Midfielder Joe Allen believes Liverpool are now better equipped to deal with the absence of last season's leading goalscorer Luis Suarez.

The Uruguay international, who has told the club he wants to play in the Champions League, is suspended for the first six games of this season as his 10-match ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic is carried over.

There is also the prospect the 26-year-old will not still be at the club come next month as he has been the subject of two failed bids from Arsenal - the last being an offer of £40million plus £1 which they thought would trigger a sale clause.

While Liverpool have remained steadfast in their stance that Suarez is not for sale, speculation about his future refuses to go away, with legal action and Premier League arbitration reported to be possible routes his advisors are exploring.

Allen, unlike captain Steven Gerrard who has told Suarez he wants him to stay, has steered clear of becoming involved in the saga.

"I think there are individual situations and as players you just get on with it," he said.

"You keep your nose out. We are all waiting to see what will happen."

But the Wales international feels there are more goals in the side now than 12 months ago to lessen the impact should Suarez depart. At the start of last season Suarez, who finished the campaign with 30 goals, almost single-handedly carried the club as their only senior striker after Andy Carroll was loaned to West Ham and a last-minute deal for Clint Dempsey fell through.

This summer manager Brendan Rodgers has brought in attacking reinforcements early, securing the services of Celta Vigo forward Iago Aspas and Sevilla midfielder Luis Alberto, and is currently pursuing a £21.8million deal for Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa.

"Maybe that was a slight problem last year in that we didn't quite get the players we wanted in time and it left the squad a bit bare at times," Allen added.

Source: PA