Cole won’t dwell on penalty miss

Joe Cole was quick to shoulder the blame after missing a penalty in tonight’s Europa League play-off first leg against Turkish Cup winners Trabzonspor at Anfield.

Ryan Babel handed Liverpool a slender advantage in first-half injury time before promptly being substituted.

Liverpool should have won more convincingly but Cole’s miserable week – after being sent off against Arsenal on Sunday – continued as he had a second-half penalty saved.

Asked when he last took a penalty, Cole told ITV1: “When I was about 13, and I scored that one.

“It was a bad penalty (tonight). It was pre-determined that I’d take it but you can’t dwell on those things.

“It was a bad penalty but we won 1-0 so we’ll take the positives from that.”

On his new playmaking role for Liverpool, Cole said: “It’s nice. I’m finding my feet in there.

“It’s my job to do that, to make goals, and it was nice to do that for Ryan tonight. He’s a terrific player. I’m enjoying my time here, I’ve had a decent start.”