The Wales international was involved as the Reds crashed out of the Champions League on Tuesday, but is hoping the big-match atmosphere on Sunday will help spur his team-mates on

Joe Allen is determined to draw on the experiences of last season to help Liverpool win at rivals Manchester United on Sunday.

Brendan Rodgers’ men suffered a disappointing Champions League exit at the group stages after a 1-1 draw at home to Basel on Tuesday.

However, the Reds have a chance to end the week on a high note with three points at Old Trafford in the eagerly awaited clash between the north west rivals.

And midfielder Allen is hoping to a similar performance to the corresponding Premier League fixture between the sides last season that saw Liverpool triumph 3-0 in March.

“We had a fantastic result there last season, so we’ll be looking to draw some confidence and inspiration from that performance and we’ll go there and try to get the win,” he told the club’s official website.

“They are great games to play in between two clubs who are massive globally and there’s a great rivalry between the clubs. These matches are great to be a part of.

“Last season it was a great feeling to go to Old Trafford and get the three points and all of the players want that feeling again.

“When you are a kid, these are the kind of games you can’t wait to watch and these are the games that inspire all of the players in the dressing room as it’s great to be involved in.

“So we can’t wait for it and both sets of fans can’t wait for the kick-off either.”

The Sweden international collapsed to the floor writhing and clutching his face following contact with the winger’s fingertips, much to the fury of the Serb’s team-mates

Basel’s Behrang Safari has dismissed the suggestion that he got Liverpool’s Lazar Markovic sent off during Tuesday’s Champions League clash at Anfield.

The Swiss side were leading 1-0 in the Group B encounter when half-time substitute Markovic threw out his right arm towards the eyes of Safari, who collapsed to the floor writhing and clutching his face.

Referee Bjorn Kuipers showed a straight red card to Markovic and, with 10 men for the remaining half-hour, Steven Gerrard’s equaliser was not enough to see Liverpool progress at Basel’s expense.

Safari came in for criticism for what some – including Reds manager Brendan Rodgers – perceived to be an exaggerated reaction to the contact, but the Sweden international has defended his actions.

“I was bleeding from my mouth,” Safari told Sportbladet. “I wouldn’t have gone to ground if he hadn’t hit me. I am not the kind of player who dives.

“It was a bit strange, I didn’t realise that it was a red card at first. I thought the referee had blown his whistle because it was a head injury and I thought I was going to give the ball to the Liverpool players afterwards.

“But then I noticed that the Liverpool players were angry with me.”

The Serbia international was sent off after being on the pitch for just 15 minutes as the Reds crashed out, though their boss has vowed to lead them back to Europe’s top table

Brendan Rodgers criticised referee Bjorn Kuipers after a 1-1 draw with Basel eliminated his Liverpool team from the Champions League.

Fabian Frei gave the Swiss visitors a deserved lead as the Reds produced a disjointed first-half showing in the vital Group B meeting at Anfield.

The introduction of Lazar Markovic at the break brought an improvement from the hosts in a game they needed to win, but the Serbian winger was sent off with an hour played.

Replays suggested Markovic’s raised hand made minimal contact with Basel defender Behrang Safari but Kuipers had little hesitation in producing a straight red card.

Steven Gerrard scored a superb free-kick to set up a grandstand finish, during which Liverpool pressed hard for a winner that they were unable to force.

Rodgers must now prepare for a drop down to the Europa League in the new year, and he had little time for Kuipers’ display after the match.

He told ITV: “I thought it was an awful decision. I thought the referee was disappointing on the evening to say the least.

“Markovic came on and was bright. He made a difference to the team, he was dynamic.

“He’s just taken a touch away, he’s obviously got his arm up. If that’s a sending off you’re going to get two to three sendings off every single game.

“It was a really, really poor decision. I’m not even sure if the referee has seen it.

“I think he’s seen the player hold his face and lie down but there’s no way that was a sending off.”

Nevertheless, Rodgers accepted the overall blame for elimination lies with his own team, who went five games without victory on their return to the competition having scraped a 2-1 victory over Ludogrets in the group opener.

A sub-standard start to the Premier League season means Liverpool face a battle to return to European football’s top table but Rodgers is confident it is a fight they can win, with a spot in next year’s competition on offer if they can win the Europa League.

He added: “As I said before the game, the players deserved the opportunity to be in here and we have to fight, going forward, to be in it next season.

“Obviously our performance level needs to improve over the course of the season but we’re not too far off the top four.

“If we do that we’ll be in the Champions League and we’ll be better in it next season.”