Joe Allen predicts 'exciting times ahead' if Liverpool can find consistency

Joe Allen believes there are “exciting times ahead” for Liverpool if they can start producing performances like yesterday's at QPR on a regular basis.

The Reds dominated at Loftus Road, impressing from start to finish as they romped to a 3-0 victory despite manager Brendan Rodgers' enforced absence.

Luis Suarez struck twice in the opening 16 minutes, before Daniel Agger netted in a first half in which Liverpool completely outplayed the hosts.

They tapered off after the break but their level of speed and skill in the opening 45 minutes is something summer signing Allen believes bodes well for the Anfield club.

"That is what we're aiming to do in every game," he told Press Association Sport.

"If we can get that level of performance as consistently as possible then we have some exciting times ahead.

"I am extremely pleased. We had a disappointing result, as everyone knows, away to Stoke so it is always important to bounce back first and foremost with a good performance.

"To score three goals and keep a clean sheet is a massive bonus.

"It was a good team performance but when you've got a player like Luis Suarez that can create and score goals out of nothing, it is a pretty big help."

As impressive as Liverpool were, there is no doubt QPR let themselves down yesterday.

That, though, is not something Allen is keen to focus on, instead pointing to the performance he and his team-mates produced.

"We like to focus on ourselves," he said. "When you come away and get a victory like this, it is obviously a massive boost to our confidence.

"I think we like to take credit maybe for the way we played and making it hard for them."

The victory was made all the more impressive by the fact they did it without manager Rodgers.

The Reds boss was sent home from London ill, so assistant manager Colin Pascoe and coach Mike Marsh were on the sidelines instead.

"I think when things like this happen it is a bit of a shock," Allen added.

"It sets you back a little bit but we've got great staff here and people that can step in.

"They can obviously do a great job and as players we are professional enough to get on with things."

The win moved Liverpool up to ninth in the standings, while QPR's predicament gets worse by the game.

The bottom-place side have now won just one of their 20 Premier League outings this season, leaving them eight points adrift of safety.

Redknapp was quick to talk up QPR's chances of survival after the game, but admits he had to bring on defensive midfielder Shaun Derry for Djibril Cisse at half-time in a bid to protect his side's goal difference.

"In the second half it became a case of damage limitation," he said. "You can't be stupid about it.

"What can you do? Open up and say you're going to score four goals in the second half against a side like that?

"Sometimes you've got to be realistic. No one wants to attack more than I do but when you're up against a team that can cut through you like we were, you have to be realistic.

"I thought we had some good movement in the second half and created a couple of good opportunities, played some decent stuff, but it's not easy."

It is clear that QPR need fresh faces if they are to beat the drop, with Redknapp recently admitting an interest in bringing former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka back to west London.

Reports have also suggested the Rs boss wants to be reunited with Joe Cole, a player he managed at West Ham, although last week he insisted there had been no contact with the Liverpool player.

Today has also seen QPR linked to West Ham's Mohamed Diame, Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila and Marseille's Loic Remy, although persuading them to join the league's bottom-place side may prove a tough sell.

PA