Posted by Will

Not so long ago Joe Cole was being talked up as being "like a god" in Liverpool by a man who knows more than any other what the average Liverpool fan is thinking, Jamie Carragher. Yes, that's right, it seems difficult to believe now after a season during which Cole has been, to put it politely, anonymous, but Carragher made that remark after the midfielder was shown a red card way back in August when the Reds took on Arsenal in their first league fixture of the season.

Fast forward not even the duration of a calendar year, however, and nobody's talking about the ex-Chelsea man anymore, that's for sure. With the move previously looking in theory like the perfect one for all involved, with the player clearly not getting the chances he desired at Chelsea but nevertheless at the right age to make a high-profile move to a club without the money running through it that the Blues possess, it seemed as if Liverpool were getting a good deal in bringing in the midfielder. Those following the Premier League betting offers certainly thought so.

Injury problems certainly haven't helped matters, but with Cole reduced to cameo appearances since the arrival of Kenny Dalglish, it wouldn't be too much of a shock if he decided to move on this summer to take on a new challenge that could rejuvenate his flagging career, particularly with Dalglish appearing to be keen on bringing through young talent from the Liverpool youth ranks rather than relying upon the stars of the past. The side are increasingly looking like Premier League best bets, and Cole doesn't seem to be part of the plan.

Should Cole opt for pastures new, there will certainly be clubs interested in asking after a price for him, with Premier League newcomers QPR thought to be one of them. Whether or not Cole can cope well enough with the psychological results of dropping from a club pushing for league glory (if you listen to Steven Gerrard) to one likely to end up battling for league survival does, however, remain to be seen.