ARSENAL and Manchester City represented the high points of Joe Allen’s brief Liverpool career.

Unfortunately those neon bright cameos were four months ago and the 22-year-old is anxious to recapture the form he showed when he hit the ground running as a Liverpool midfielder, against the same opposition this week.

Allen’s displays against City in August and the Gunners a week later were impressive.

His stats against Arsenal in particular were lauded – 69 passes completed, a staggering 52 minutes before he misplaced a pass, 15 long passes successfully completed, 15 passes completed in Arsenal’s final third and three successful interceptions.

But after that flying start Allen faltered and in recent weeks he has been pulled out of the firing line by his manager.

After opening his goal account for the Reds in Sunday’s Cup shocker at Oldham, Allen is keen to show he can go again.

“In recent times I think it goes without saying that my form has been slightly disappointing,” he explained.

“But I am faithful and confident that I will turn things around on a personal level.

“It’s games like Wednesday (at Arsenal) where, if I can be involved in some way, I can get my performance levels higher.

“The games against Arsenal and Manchester City earlier in the season are probably the level I am hoping to reach again and be more consistent with.

“There is no magic formula. I’ll keep working hard and keep faithful there will be another performance like that just around the corner.”