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Former Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen is to retire this weekend(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Former Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen, brought to the club and once famously dubbed 'the Welsh Xavi' by manager Brendan Rodgers, is to retire from football after one final match this weekend.

Of his total, 132 of those matches were played when the midfielder was with Liverpool between 2012 and 2016.

"This is incredibly difficult.



This is not something I've taken lightly, I've spent a lot of time pondering it," he told reporters in Wales today.

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"The timing's right.

Under Rodgers they finished a respectable 11th in their first season in the top-flight, prompting the Reds to make a move for the Northern Irish coach.

And once appointed at Anfield it was his second motion in the transfer market to make Allen a £15m signing, coming into a midfield alongside Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson.

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In the early days of his Liverpool career the club released a documentary titled 'Being: Liverpool' - some supporters appreciated the insight into the club, others turned up their noses as it wasn't a particularly successful period, plus there were moments like Rodgers dubbing Allen 'the Welsh Xavi'.

This comparison to Barcelona's eight-time LaLiga and four-time Champions League winner was a huge weight to carry over the following four years as he produced only seven goals and three assists.

"There's been a few nicknames floating around," Allen responded in 2016.

"It's a dangerous one because I had the 'Welsh Xavi' tag for a while and that didn't really do me too many favours."

When he left Liverpool, Rodgers had been replaced by Jurgen Klopp.

If you look at the quality Liverpool have got in midfield, and maybe the age of the players, I think I’d have been waiting for injuries and suspensions."

With the Potters he was able to play two more seasons in the Premier League until they were relegated, then for four more years in the second tier.

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This prompted a return to boyhood club Swansea, where his career is to come to a fitting end in front of his local supporters on Saturday.