Vukasin Poleksic has blasted claims that he tried to fix a 2009 Champions League game between Debrecen and Liverpool.

The Montenegro international has recently returned to action after a two-year ban for failing to report being approached to throw a tie in the same competition that year against Fiorentina.

Poleksic is alleged to have received payment from an illegal Singapore betting syndicate to concede more than two goals against the Reds, but he believes his performance on that night proves he is innocent.

“Anyone who watched the match would know that what people are saying is bull,” he told The Daily Mail.

“We lost 1-0 at Liverpool and I played a good game. I made lots of saves: a one-on-one against Albert Riera, one from Fernando Torres, one from Steven Gerrard. I remember it all. How can anyone say I threw the game?

“The match did not seem at all odd that night. There was nothing. I was just delighted to be playing at Anfield. It was a great night for me and my club and we played well.

“It was the biggest match of my career. Liverpool have always been my favourite club. I love them and can’t believe what people have said about me.

“But I know I am clean. I just worry that people will believe what is being said.”

Poleksic admits he should have reported the approach he faced ahead of the Fiorentina game and is desperate not to face further punishment for a crime he is insistent he has not committed.

“They called me a week or 10 days before the game and it made it difficult for me to play,” he explained.

“I was so scared of making a mistake in case I was accused of something. I don’t know who the people were who called me. I told them, ‘I don’t do this, I’d never do this, please don’t call me’.

“I don’t know where they were from but I made the mistake of not saying anything. I wasn’t sure it was so serious and I had no information about the people so I didn’t say anything.

“Every goalkeeper in the world makes mistakes but my big one was that I didn’t call the police. I didn’t play for two years because of this but it’s my fault because I didn’t report it.

“But I didn’t fix anything. I came back in June and the club have been behind me the whole time. They know that I have done nothing wrong.

“Nobody understands what I’ve been through. It’s been very difficult for my family too and I couldn’t have got through this without them.”

Liverpool and Spain goalkeeper Pepe Reina has criticised Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho’s decision to drop Iker Casillas from the starting XI earlier this season.

The Spain international lost his spot between the sticks to Antonio Adan for the matches against Malaga and Real Sociedad, but soon won his place back after his understudy was sent off against the Basques.

“I don’t think relegating players to the bench motivates them. There are other ways of dealing with these things,” Reina told Canal Movistar.

Casillas subsequently broke his thumb against Valencia, and Reina went on to say that he hoped his international team-mate returns to full fitness as soon as possible.

“I have spoken with Iker and I sent him a text message of support when he got injured. I hope he is back with us as soon as possible.

“He has to recover soon and make sure he recovers fully. His hands are vital for this job and he must look after them.”

Casillas is expected to be out of action for an estimated two more months due to his hand injury.

Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen is hoping a return to the Liberty Stadium this week with the Wales national team will provide the kickstart his campaign desperately needs.

Chris Coleman’s side entertain Austria in a friendly on Wednesday and the 22-year-old is keenly aware of how his performances have dropped in recent weeks.

It comes in stark contrast to the exceptional early-season form shown by Allen after initially making his move from Swansea to Anfield in the summer and he remains determined to force his way back into the starting XI, allaying any fears that his slump is connected to his hefty £15 million price-tag in the process.

“I’d never put it down to [the price-tag]. Whether that has affected me or not, I don’t really know,” he told reporters.

“Everyone knows my form hasn’t been great. It’s been disappointing not to have been involved in every game.

“But it’s up to me now to work hard and get myself back in the team and improve my level of performance.

“It’s always nice to go back to Swansea. You try and separate club and international duties but I’m delighted to be back.”

The Reds currently sit seventh league, nine points adrift of Tottenham in fourth, while the Welsh national team are fifth out of six in their World Cup qualifying group and Allen believes that both club and country are not getting the credit or points that their performances have merited.

He added: “It’s almost the story of the season. We’ve deserved more than we’ve got and Sunday’s game at Manchester City was probably a prime example of that.

“It’s similar here [with Wales]. Both are positive and looking to the future and the biggest thing is everyone has that faith and belief that things will turn around for the better.

“I’d like to think the New Year is a fresh start for Wales. The results over the last few games haven’t been as good as we’d hoped for. We’re looking to improve

“Consistency is key. In international football you don’t get the chance to work with each other that often so it’s important that, when you get together, you can get your ideas and philosophy across.”