<text>  Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen admits it took longer than they expected to turn their season around but he now has every confidence they can make it a success. A dreadful start to the campaign saw them slip to 10th, seven points off the minimum requirement of a top-four place, in mid-December and exit the Champions League at the group stage. Since then, however, they have taken 30 points from their 12 subsequent Premier League matches to put themselves firmly in the mix for a top-four place and have an FA Cup quarter-final replay against Sky Bet Championship side Blackburn to face next month. Joe Allen centre warms up with SImon Mignolet and Lazar Markovic right last week . Allen left trains with team-mate Steven Gerrard and right back Glen Johnson centre We always knew wed turn it around but we wondered how long it was going to take. It did take longer than we expected, I think, said Wales midfielder Allen. Losing Luis Suarez in the summer to Barcelona and Daniel Sturridge being out injured for so long as well and the change we had, we always knew thered be a little bit of a rocky patch but we didnt expect it to go on so long. We put expectation on ourselves because we think were good enough to go on runs like this. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is trying to tie down a number of his first-team stars to longer deals . Emre Can and Kolo Toure right battle each other as they go for a sprint during training . With the players weve got, and the confidence were playing with, I think its a case of long may it continue. The turnaround came after their Champions League failure was followed immediately by a 3-0 defeat at Manchester United, their main rival for a top-four spot. A change in system to a 3-4-2-1 formation has brought the best out of a number of players, particularly 22-year-old playmaker Philippe Coutinho and utility man Emre Can, who recently turned 21. Liverpool goalkeeper Mignolet gets down low to his right to stop a ball with his hand in training . Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert strikes one on the volley with his left foot during training . Martin Skrtel works on his fitness and conditioning with Liverpool coach Ryland Morgans left People forget sometimes that were a pretty young team and squad, Allen, who is fit again after a hip problem to face former club Swansea this evening, told liverpoolfc.com. The beauty of that is that we will get better. Weve shown that as the season has gone on. With this run of games were going on, were really looking forward to Monday nights game and well be setting our stall out to go there and pick up three points. Weve grown massively and I think you can see the change in formation. Weve taken to that really well and quickly, which is important. I think we seem to have that edge back, even if were not playing the most flowing football or things arent going 100 per cent to plan, we still look like were going to get the result and I think that speaks volumes about how much everyone has taken things forward. Manager Brendan Rodgers is keen to keep the nucleus of this young side together, and while contract negotiations with Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson have dragged on for several months now they have just opened talks with the 24-year-old Allen over a new deal. Were at the early stages at the moment but the signs are good, he told BBC Wales Sport. From my point of view Im looking to commit my future here and hopefully I can be here for years to come. For me its just a case of playing regularly and putting in consistent performances. Ive always been confident that Ill be able to be successful here. CHELSEA . Hull away - March 22 . Stoke home - April 4 . QPR away - April 12 . Man United home - April 18 . Arsenal away - April 26 . Leicester away - April 29 . Crystal Palace home - May 2 . Liverpool home - May 9 . West Brom away - May 16 . Sunderland home - May 24 . MANCHESTER CITY . West Brom home - March 21 . Crystal Palace away - April 6 . Man United away - April 12 . West Ham home April 19 . Aston Villa home - April 25 . Tottenham away - May 2 . QPR home - May 9 . Swansea away - May 16 . Southampton home - May 24 . ARSENAL . Newcastle away - March 21 . Liverpool home - April 4 . Burnley away - April 11 . Sunderland home April 18 POSTPONED . Chelsea home - April 26 . Hull away - May 2 . Swansea home - May 9 . Man United away - May 16 . West Brom home - May 24 . MANCHESTER UNITED . Liverpool away - March 22 . Aston Villa home - April 4 . Man City home - April 12 . Chelsea away - April 18 . Everton away - April 26 . West Brom home - May 2 . Crystal Palace away - May 9 . Arsenal home - May 16 . Hull away - May 24 . LIVERPOOL . Swansea away - March 16 . Man United home - March 22 . Arsenal away - April 4 . Newcastle home - April 13 . Hull away - April 18 . West Brom away - April 25 . QPR home - May 2 . Chelsea away - May 9 . Crystal Palace home - May 16 . Stoke away - May 24 . TOTTENHAM . Leicester home - March 21 . Burnley away - April 5 . Aston Villa home - April 11 . Newcastle away - April 19 . Southampton away - April 25 . Manchester City home - May 2 . Stoke away - May 9 . Hull home - May 16 . Everton away - May 24 . SOUTHAMPTON . Burnley home - March 21 . Everton away - April 4 . Hull home - April 11 . Stoke away - April 18 . Tottenham home - April 25 . Sunderland away - May 2 . Leicester away - May 9 . Aston Villa home - May 16 . Man City away - May 24 . Note: Fixtures in May subject to change for television schedule. For a full list of Premier League fixtures and to check kick-off times, results and league tables, visit our brilliant MATCH ZONE by clicking HERE. Games marked POSTPONED will be rearranged due to the FA Cup. 