Liverpool players focussed on defeating Chelsea, insists midfield star

Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen insists he, and his team-mates, are focussed on defeating Chelsea next weekend as they moved a step closer to Premier League title glory.

The Reds went five points clear at the top of the division with a thrilling 3-2 victory over relegation-threatened Norwich City.

But the former Swansea man told talkSPORT they are only thinking about beating their opponents and not its ramifications on the title race.

Allen said: “I know it’s a cliché, and people are probably sick of hearing it, but the strength of this team has been our focus on the next game.

“We see every game the same. There are three points at stake and some people will bill certain games in a different way, but we’ve come away, finished this game off and our attention now turns to next week.

“We will make sure we give everything to get the three points and being at Anfield with the supporters who have been incredible for us it will be a massive boost for us."

And asked if he ever imagined he would be playing for a title challenging Liverpool side when he joined the club back in 2012, Allen replied: “I dreamt it would be this good, of course.

“Part of your ambition as a professional footballer, when you join a club like Liverpool, is to get success. You want to be a part of that.

“I’m thoroughly enjoying where we are at the moment and I’m thrilled to be part of a team and a squad which is willing to give everything to get [success].”