Joe Cole says Liverpool will need to improve on the form they showed against FK Rabotnicki in the Europa League qualifer if they are to beat Arsenal in the Premier League opener next Sunday (Cole 14/1 to be Liverpool top scorer this season).

New signing Cole enjoyed a fine debut on Thursday evening at Anfield when he was at the heart of most of the Reds’ best moves in the 2-0 second-leg win over the Macedonian minnows, that set up a 4-0 overall victory in the tie.

However, despite the comfortable win and the impressive passing and movement on show in the game from Roy Hodgson’s side, the former Chelsea ace insists it will be a whole different kettle of fish against the Gunners and they will need to be better if they are also to kick off their domestic campaign with a win.

Liverpool’s new number 10 says the return of World Cup finalists Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt and Pepe Reina will automatically raise the quality level but he is well aware there is plenty of hard work to be done on the training pitch as well ahead of the clash against Arsene Wenger’s men (Liverpool 5/4, Arsenal 7/4 to win – 90 minutes).

“We’ve had two (competitive) games now and we’ve got Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt, Pepe Reina and the others to come back,” he said.

“We’ve got a lot to work on and there is a lot for us to do. We’ve got to come together and continue to improve.

“We have to keep working hard every day on the training pitch and go from there. We know we’ve got a long way to go.”

Cole appears to revel in the role Hodgson played him in on Thursday – just ahead of England colleague Steven Gerrard in a central attacking position – but he stresses it is far too early to assess his performance or that of the side in general until at least six games into the new campaign.

“You can’t assess anything on the first six games of the season, you have to judge us in May,” he added.

Liverpool have been drawn against Trabzonspor in the final play-off before the Europa League (Reds 9/1 – Outright) reverts to a group format and will be strong favourites to progress despite a tricky second leg in Turkey at the end of the month.

Meanwhile, Juventus midfielder Christian Poulsen is expected to complete a move to Anfield early next week in a deal that could cost the Reds up to £6million.

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