Sam Allardyce admits he is surprised by Liverpool Football Club’s struggles this season.

Allardyce takes his Blackburn Rovers side to Anfield on Sunday, to face a Reds side who were this time last season in contention for the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.

Twelve months on, though, and Rafael Benitez’s team are battling to finish in the top four, whilst they were knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage.

"At the end of last season they were scoring freely and it was all looking so rosy for them,” Allardyce told The Sun. "So I'm surprised to see them going through the turmoil of the last few months.

"Liverpool are not where they expected to be and are in a difficult position. Yet they've been professional and dogged enough to slowly and surely improve over the last few weeks.”

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