Joe Cole

Boston Red Sox supremo John W Henry took over at Anfield last week, after a turbulent few days in court, only for the turmoil to continue on the pitch at Everton with a 2-0 defeat in Sunday’s Merseyside derby.

But Cole, who joined the club on a free transfer from Chelsea in the summer, wants the players to reward the new owners for providing some much needed stability after the reign of George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

The  28-year-old told Liverpool’s website: “We’re happy that it’s all sorted out and the club’s got some direction again. I know the fans are happy.

“They (NESV) seem genuine and they seem like they are doing it through passion. Everything seems great.

“I definitely think they can help us get back up there.”

Liverpool’s first attempt to bounce back comes at Serie A outfit Napoli in the Europa League on Thursday night although they will have to do it without captain Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres (Napoli 10/11, draw 5/2, Liverpool 3/1).

Boss Roy Hodgson has elected to leave his two best players behind as he juggles European commitments with the Premier League.

Liverpool (7/10 to win the game) entertain Blackburn Rovers (4/1) at Anfield on Sunday which is a crucial game given a domestic run of one win in eight league games.

Hodgson has also left out midfielders Lucas and Raul Meireles for the trip to Italy while Glen Johnson and Dirk Kuyt are injured and Daniel Agger is now suffering with illness.

“Some of the more important senior players won’t travel because their participation on Sunday is going to be so important to us,” said Hodgson.

“It’s not just a question of playing three matches in a week it’s also a question of injury.

“I don’t think our squad is so strong that I can afford to risk them.

“But it’ll still be a strong team we put out there and I think it’s a chance for some players who have been on the fringes, like David Ngog and others like Ryan Babel who has had very few chances.

“It’s yet another opportunity for these players to blast their way into the team and force me to look at them in a different light, to make sure they are players that are first on the list and not down the pecking order.”

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Joe Cole

The Reds have so far won three Europa League qualifying games and almost beat Arsenal with 10 men last weekend only for a freak own goal by goalkeeper Jose Reina to give the Gunners a 1-1 draw at Anfield.

Cole has personally endured a somewhat difficult start to his Liverpool career – getting sent off against Arsenal and then missing a penalty on Thursday in the 1-0 win over Trabzonspor – but he says Roy Hodgson’s side are in good shape and will take on big-spending City in fine fettle (Liverpool to win 3-1 – 25/1).

The England man, who is suspended for Monday night’s clash, said: “I’ll be cheering the lads on and I think we’ll do a good job.

“We are ready, we are getting stronger.

“It’s been a disjointed pre-season but we are getting fitter and fitter. The players are looking better every day.

“We are going there full of confidence after holding Arsenal to a draw.”

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Joe Cole

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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Liverpool

New Reds boss Roy Hodgson has pulled off something of a coup by landing the player as Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United and a number of clubs abroad were keen, but the player has opted for Anfield.

Cole has agreed terms and even though the player still has to undergo a medical, which will happen in the next 48 hours, Liverpool do not expect any problems and have announced the deal as done.

The news comes as huge boost to Liverpool, who have had to fend off constant speculation over the future of star players Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres all summer.

The positive Liverpool fans will see this as an indication that both players are staying as Cole would surely want assurances that they would not be sold before he signed, while the more cynical may believe he is a replacement for Gerrard.

Time will tell but Hodgson has made it clear that Gerrard and Torres are not for sale and with Cole on board Liverpool should at least be looking at winning their place back in the top four.

They are 7/4 to do so but with Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham again looking strong, it will be a tall order even with Cole on board.

Premier League champions Chelsea have revealed they were unwilling to match Cole’s demands and were happy to let him go, obviously believing they can cope without him, but Liverpool are willing to match his demands and think he is worth it.

Yossi Benayoun left Anfield to move to Chelsea in a deal worth £6million in the summer so after the Reds landed Cole for free they will feel they got the best part of the deal.

Everything will become a lot clearer next season but for now Liverpool look to have pulled off one of the transfer coups of the summer so far.

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Cole has just returned from South Africa with the Three Lions squad after the side crashed out of the tournament having lost to old rivals Germany 4-1 in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

The former West Ham United academy player did not feature a great deal for an England side that only managed to win one of their five matches in the competition.

Cole will be a free agent as of July 1 after he failed to renew a deal with Premier League champions Chelsea (13/8 to win the Premier League) having spent seven years with the club.

The 28-year-old was out throughout much of last season through injury but did contribute an important goal against Manchester United which helped the west London side win the league.

Cole was coming back into the side near the end of the season and scrapped into the England team after putting in some good performances in the pre-tournament friendlies.

The playmaker will now be looking to find first team football with a top club and potential suitors are queuing up for the player’s signature.

Premier League rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have declared an interest in the midfielder and could be in the front running to sign the player who might choose to continue his stay in London.

It’s Giesse’s job to find a club for Cole and overseas clubs have been mentioned as a possibility for the talented winger.

He said: “The boy has just returned from South Africa and now he will go on holiday. There are clubs interested in him, we are talking about a world-class player.

“I think by the end of the World Cup there will be developments and within two to three weeks there will be some news.

“Are AC Milan and Juventus interested? All negotiations are possible and that is not garbage,? he added.

Cole will be looking for a club that will challenge for honours at the highest level which is what he has been used to.

Whether this will be in the Premier League, Serie A or La Liga remains to be seen but the player will be hoping to be a key member of the England squad as they look to qualify for the 2012 European Championships.

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Manchester United

Cole will be a free-agent as of July 1 when his contract with Chelsea comes to an end and the Stamford Bridge side have already confirmed Cole will move on.

A number of clubs are said to be keen on the former West Ham playmaker and reports earlier this week suggested the Old Trafford side were the most likely candidates to secure a deal.

However, the Guardian newspaper have now claimed a source has told them United have no interest in the 28-year-old, which would allow Arsenal and Spurs to move in.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp confirmed he was keen to sign Cole after it became clear he had no future with Chelsea but Redknapp has since stated he has been unable to speak to Cole and believed he had agreed terms elsewhere.

This would now appear not to be the case as the midfielder is focussing on his international commitments and Redknapp will move quickly as soon as the World Cup is over to try and seal a deal.

However, Arsenal have also been mooted as potential suitors for Cole and a battle for the player’s signature could erupt between the two north London rivals.

Redknapp has worked with Cole before when manager to West Ham and the current Spurs boss was the manager who gave Cole his debut in the Premier League.

Spurs also have Champions League football to offer for the first time in their history, while Cole will already know the likes of Aaaron Lennon, Jermaine Defoe and Peter Crouch, amongst others at White Hart Lane, having played alongside the Spurs men in the England squad (Spurs 50/1 to win the Premier League).

Arsenal face the very real prospect of losing captain Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona this summer and if the Spaniard does decide to leave they will be eager to find a suitable replacement.

Although Cole and Fabregas are not particularly similar in playing-style the England international could well fit in to the Arsenal line-up and boss Arsene Wenger has already confirmed he is keen to bring in some new faces over the summer to boost the Gunners chances of securing some silverware next season.

It appears Cole will not decide upon anything until after the World Cup, but as soon as England’s tournament is over he will probably have a number of options to consider with current reports suggesting Spurs and Arsenal are leading the chase for his signature.

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England

Chelsea announced on Wednesday that Cole would be leaving Stamford Bridge during the summer, but the player says his future in his agent’s hands.

He is looking forward to the World Cup, and says: “That’s all that is in my mind now.”

Cole added: “I’ve worked hard to be here and I’m leaving all the rest of it to my agent… It’s been going on for a while, but that is a story for another day. Right now, I am just happy to be here. And if I play it will be fantastic.”

The midfielder failed to hold down a regular place for Chelsea, England’s double-winning club champions and cup-holders, during an injury-hit season (13/8 Chelsea – Premier League outright 2010-11).

He underwent surgery on a knee last year and after months of recovery work found it difficult to regain a starting position for Chelsea. But he said he never accepted that his international future was bleak.

“No, I never feared my England days were over,” he told reporters. “I am very confident in my ability, but it was tough for the manager to pick me when I wasn’t playing regularly, rightly or wrongly, at club level.

“Yes, for this tournament I knew I might not make it, but not that it (international career) was over. Now, there is a chance I could be playing against America and for me that is fantastic.

“Now I am back to my best and want to show it at this World Cup and play better than I did at the last one.”

Cole said England coach Fabio Capello, in contrast to his predecessors, kept the players on their toes with his training, selection and discipline.

“The great thing with this squad now, which is different to the whole of my England career, is that you don’t know who this manager is going to pick,” he said.

“This is good and, in my experience, from club level, I’ve always found when that is the case, and players are not picked on reputation, but on form, fitness and temperament, these are the things that get a better team ethic and the team gels together.”

He added: “Fabio Capello is the best manager I have worked with for England.

“I put him alongside (Jose) Mourinho as one of the two best managers I have worked with. He has an aura.

“He knows his way round a football pitch, his tactical knowledge goes without saying and his preparation is spot-on. You don’t want to let him down.”

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West Ham

Zola’s men have struggled over the course of the campaign which came as a shock following their top-half-of-the-table finish last time around.

The east Londoners, however, could be safe on Saturday night if they manage to beat inconsistent Wigan at Upton Park (West Ham 4/5, draw 12/5, Wigan 16/5) and Sunderland roll over Hull at the KC Stadium (Hull 6/5, draw 9/4, Sunderland 21/10).

Three points would move the Hammers six points clear of the 18th-placed Tigers with two games to play, with their vastly superior goal difference highly likely to be enough to guarantee their top-flight status.

But Zola is honest enough to admit he is relying on an out-of-form striker to get his side out of the mire in the shape of seven-cap England forward Cole, a former team-mate from his days at Chelsea.

The Italian said: “Carlton hasn’t scored for a while but he’s keeping an important one back for us, possibly a winner.

“I’m relying on that. He hasn’t scored many goals but he is an important player for us. As I said, I know he is keeping something good for us.”

In fact, Cole (6/5 Anytime Goalscorer) has not hit the back of the net for nine Premier League games and was virtually anonymous, along with most of the West Ham side, during Monday night’s limp 3-0 defeat at fellow under-achievers Liverpool.

But Zola hopes good things can come from the loss following clear-the-air talks with the players.

He added: “It’s a massive game for us and we also know the last game wasn’t very good. You say certain things in the changing room and it is important because it means the players are committed.

“They are determined to bounce back. I am confident we will see a reaction. We have had so many problems this year and we are determined to give those problems a kick and this is an incredible opportunity to do that.”

Wigan are all but safe; they go into the weekend seven points above the drop zone with three games to go following last Sunday’s 3-2 come-from-behind win over Arsenal at the DW Stadium.

But Latics manager Roberto Martinez does not want to leave any margin from error at the end of a roller-coaster first season in charge following last summer’s move from Championship side Swansea.

The Spaniard said: “I’ve heard a lot of people say we are safe, but I don’t believe that.

“Mathematically we’re not safe, so we need to make sure we achieve that first and foremost, and I feel the players are focused, more concentrated right now than ever this season.

“We can allow ourselves to treat this game as a cup final because the reality is if we beat West Ham we’ve achieved our aim for this season, which is staying in the Premier League, and it doesn’t come any bigger than that.”

Martinez added: “It’s important we don’t follow up what was a fantastic win over Arsenal with a bad result against West Ham.”

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