Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen has claimed that opposition defences are scared of facing his side.

The Reds have the Premier League's two top scorers in Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez, while Raheem Sterling's form has seen him stake a place in the England team recently.

Allen believes that hard work has paid off for Liverpool and has shown in their improvement since last season.

"The difference this year to last year is incredible," he told the Liverpool Echo. "We talked a lot last year and things didn't quite click.

"The combinations since the first game of this season have been spot on. Every single player is giving everything to get the required results. You see the hunger every time we go forward. That's the reason, along with the quality of our strikeforce, why we're scoring so many.

"With Suarez, Sturridge and Sterling we have plenty of pace and the combinations and link up play is scaring every defence."

Liverpool's next match is against Manchester United at Old Trafford next weekend.