Comment: Unfit And Under-Par Joe Cole Should Learn A Lesson Or Two From Dirk Kuyt If He Wants To Save His Liverpool Career

Goal
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This was not the first time in Dirk Kuyt’s Liverpool career that he has become a hero. The Dutchman may not be the most gifted player on the planet but he has always been respected by the Kop for his tireless work-rate and his fierce desire to win.

It came as little surprise that it was Kuyt who nodded home the late winner to book Kenny Dalglish’s side a place in the last 16 of the Europa League with a 1-0 win over Sparta Prague at Anfield on Thursday night.

It was a goal that rewarded Kuyt for his professionalism, his commitment to keeping himself in good shape and his winning mentality.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for some of Kuyt’s team-mates.

Earlier in the week, Joe Cole declared he is “determined to be a success” at Liverpool despite a woeful start at the club after joining on a free transfer from Chelsea last summer.

That aim certainly wasn’t reflected in his performance against Sparta Prague, which petered out completely after a relatively promising first 15 minutes on the left flank.

Cole has been hampered by injuries this season but even Dalglish could not have expected the 29-year-old to be so unfit. The Scot would have expected Cole to be short of match sharpness, but the England international was on his haunches and neglecting his defensive duties from the 20th minute and spent long spells of the second half static and with his hands on his hips.

There can be no reason for a top flight footballer to be so lacking in fitness unless they have not been putting in enough hard work on the training ground to build up their stamina.

By the time Cole was clear on goal in the final minute, he was too tired to strike the ball cleanly and sliced his effort wide of the post.

For all Kuyt’s technical inadequacies, he has always been hugely appreciated by his managers and team-mates for the way he leads by example and works for the team.

On one occasion in the first half, after Kuyt and superbly set up a chance for David Ngog, the ball bounced up in the penalty area and it looked like Cole was going to run in and put the ball towards the Sparta goal.

But the closer Cole got to the ball, the more he slowed, hesitating as he realised that he may have to commit to a 50-50 challenge with Jaromir Blazek, the Sparta goalkeeper.

Cole bottled it. He didn’t fancy the challenge and turned his back and winced as Blazek took hold of the ball after a couple of attempts.