Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers says for him it's all about "technical ability" in a player.

Like the 'little technicians' from Spain, Joe Allen stands a few inches shorter than most professional players, but this has never been a concern for Rodgers.

"For me, it doesn't matter how big or small they are," he told liverpoolfc.com. "With the ball, I like my players to have a good level of technical ability, but I also like them to have the desire and the will when they haven't got the ball.

"If you look at the two best players on the pitch, along with Diaby, in the game on Sunday, they were Joe Allen and Cazorla. You'd probably be lucky if both of them were over 5ft 6, but they're wonderful technicians and players that can both get on the ball.

"If you are going to play a technical game, you need technical players, it's as simple as that. Obviously that's the way in which I like the players to play, and certainly something that we will look for in the future."