Joe Allen, AKA Liverpool’s Samson, Joey Pirlo, the Welsh Xavi, or whatever other name you wish to bestow upon him, has begrudgingly promised to shave his luscious locks – providing he bags in the Europa League Final!
The pint-sized midfielder has come on leaps and bounds under Jurgen Klopp, growing his hair throughout the campaign.
At the weekend, it was long enough to tie behind an alice-band – and it did the trick – with Allen scoring against Watford and orchestrating a 2-0 victory!
“We had Joe in the lounge at Anfield after the game on Sunday to pick up a Man of the Match award,” comedian Willie Miller said after the weekend win, reported in the Echo.
“He got a few questions about when the beard would be coming off and the hair cut. He wasn’t too keen to be fair but they kept at him and in the end he promised he’ll do it if he scores in the Europa League final!
“If it happens, we’ll do it in aid of Zoe’s Place (baby hospice).”
Allen’s by no means guaranteed a starting spot against Sevilla on May 18th, especially with captain Jordan Henderson close to returning from injury and the form of Emre Can and James Milner centrally.
But Allen’s been involved from the bench in nearly every match even when he does begin as a substitute, and having now scored three this term, he might just bag in Basel as well!
That would cap a jaw-dropping transformation from a midfielder Liverpool fans universally felt was surplus to requirements, to one supporters are almost begging a contract extension to.
As it stands, Allen’s deal expires in summer 2017, but discussions over his Anfield future will take place come the end of this campaign.
Here at EOTK, we’d love him to sign and continue his development under Klopp.