Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen has insisted that he will not rest on his laurels as he looks to fight his way back into the starting lineup.

Allen is nearing a return from injury for the Reds having been sidelined for seven weeks with a hamstring problem that he picked up during the League Cup clash with Notts County in August.

During that time, Jordan Henderson and Victor Moses have both established themselves in the Liverpool side, while youngster Luis Alberto adds yet more competition for places in midfield.

However, Allen believes that a club of Liverpool's stature is always going to have strength in depth and is determined to do his best in order to regain a spot in the starting XI.

"When you sign for a club like Liverpool, that's the first thing you realise. When you sign for a club like this, you can't rest on any laurels. There are people who will fight for your place inside the club and also outside the club; there are so many people who want to join a massive club like this," Allen told the club's official website.

"You've always got to make sure that you give your best every single day to stake a claim. Nothing has changed there, that's the same as far as anyone is concerned. The team's goal is an obvious one - this is a club with such a rich history and Champions League football is what every supporter wants to see this club competing in.

"That's the goal for the team. For me, the big one is to get into the team and stay there, and play consistently well. And try to offer as much as I can to help the team get into those top places."

Liverpool currently sit joint-top of the Premier League table having picked up 16 points from their opening seven games.