Swansea City manager Garry Monk believes Joe Allen has matured a lot this season.
The Welsh midfielder, 25, left Swansea to join the Reds in 2012 and after an indifferent beginning to life on Merseyside, is now one of the club's most improved and consistent performers.
"He is starting to be recognised and he deserves it," Monk said of his old Swans colleague.
"It is tough going from Swansea to Liverpool, it is not an easy transition. He can be defensive and offensive, he is a two-way player.
"Maybe he struggled to do that early on there but it has clicked and he has been fantastic and bossed games for them recently.
"I have seen his progression here through to the first team. He always looked like he would be a top player and he is proving it.
"He is maturing, he is a man not a boy, has filled out and he is coming into his peak.
"He has been at Liverpool for a while and he understands the expectation and is taking that on to the field.
"You come to a point in your career where you grow up and mature, your knowledge of the game and being at a big club clicks into place and in this run he has been key for them."
