Fallow patch: By his own admission, Joe Cole's form
has been lamentable since joining Liverpool
Joe Cole admitted he was in the depths of despair after
revealing how he spends ‘every minute of every day’ looking for a
solution to the worst spell of his career.
Liverpool’s summer signing from Chelsea opened up on his anguish
after again making a negligible impact in another below-par
performance from Roy Hodgson’s side at Goodison Park on
Sunday.
Cole looked a forlorn figure as he was substituted 10 minutes
from the end of a 2-0 derby defeat that left the five-times
European champions in their worst-ever Premier League position —
19th.
Describing how a wretched start to his Anfield career had left
him at a low ebb, Cole said: ‘I have never had a period like this
before. I need to find my form somehow. I need to do a lot better,
but I’m only looking at myself, no-one else.
‘I am desperate to do well for Liverpool and, every minute of
every day, I am thinking about how I can get there. I know I’m not
playing well. I expect a lot better of myself, but at least I am at
a club who are going to help me through it.’
David Moyes admitted Everton did not need to be at their best to
win, while Liverpool’s shortcomings were further highlighted by a
claim from Mikel Arteta that his side had triumphed with only seven
fully-fit players.
Phil Jagielka returned ahead of schedule from a hamstring
injury, while defender John Heitinga, midfielder Leon Osman and
Arteta himself were all feeling the effects of various
ailments.
‘We had three or four players struggling to stay on the field,
like Johnny, Ossie and myself,’ said the Everton playmaker, who
scored the clinching goal.
‘We were falling down all over the place, but even with all
those kicks and knocks, we deserved to win. Everything went to
plan. We set the tempo and dictated what was going to happen.’
Depleted: But Arteta secured Everton's victory with
this fine strike
