Joe Allen: 'It was obvious that I needed to leave Liverpool'

Joe Allen has claimed that it was "pretty obvious" that it was time for him to leave Liverpool.

The midfielder signed for Stoke City in a reported £13m deal in the summer transfer window after falling down the pecking order at Anfield.

The Wales international, who joined the Reds from Swansea City for around £15m in 2012, had to settle for a spot on the substitutes' bench under manager Jurgen Klopp last season.

Allen previously revealed that he learned that Liverpool wanted to sell him via a text message from his friend.

Now, the 26-year-old has claimed that he made the right decision in moving on.

"I feel refreshed and really positive," Allen told reporters. "I think it had come to the point where I knew I needed to move on. Personally, it was pretty obvious.

"Hopefully, I will get much more game time now and I think that is going to be really important for me in my international career as well.

"Any player will tell you regular football makes tonnes of difference to the way you perform and the way you feel out on the football pitch. It comes to a certain stage in your career where, if it's not happening, then you have to go and seek it out."

Allen scored his first international goal in Wales's 4-0 win over Moldova in Monday's World Cup qualifier.