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Former Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen says he knew Stoke City would be a great club to join back in January, when his penalty kick dumped them out of the League Cup semi-finals at Anfield.
The Reds won a penalty shoot-out 6-5 and Allen believes his former club had been lucky to survive on the night.
So impressed by Stoke’s performance, the 26-year-old says he knew at the time that his new club was going in the right direction.
Allen said: “I remember thinking Liverpool were lucky to get through because Stoke pushed them all the way and I thought yes, they are moving in the right direction and if the chance arose it would be a club I’d be interested in joining.
“It wasn’t a difficult decision [to leave Liverpool]. The timing was right for me to move on.
“One of the huge positives is the experiences I’ve already gained as a player and hopefully it’s going to come to fruition in the peak years of my career.
“I hope my best football is going to be played at this club.
“I’m hoping they will [forgive me]. I was just doing my job at the end of the day.
“I’m excited now to be representing Stoke, rather than playing against them, and hopefully I can win them over with a few good performances.”
Stoke City paid Liverpool £13million this summer for the Welshman.