Following Liverpool’s surprise 3-1 defeat to Swansea in the Capital One Cup, Reds’ boss Brendan Rodgers told reporters he was less than impressed with the performance of out-of-favour Joe Cole.

The former England midfielder has struggled at Liverpool since joining in 2010. Cole spent last season out on loan at Lille, where the 30-year-old managed to regain some of his old form.

This campaign, Cole has been struggling with a hamstring injury, and kept out of the  first team at Anfield by the rise in stock of youngsters Suso and Raheem Sterling.

Rodgers announced yesterday that he would give Joe Cole an opportunity to shine as he rotated his squad for the Capital One Cup clash with Swansea. However, the former West Ham and Chelsea man was hauled off by his boss at half time, failing to make any impact on the game.

In a post match interview, Rodgers explained “Joe Allen was virtually playing on his own in midfield in the first half with all due respect”, and continued by suggesting Cole’s time at Liverpool could now be up.

"The club have invested an astronomical amount of money on a talented player and Joe [Cole] had the opportunity" said Rodgers.

"He has been back fit a couple of weeks and his opportunities have been limited but you have to see.

"I thought it was difficult for him, it was too slow and it wasn't what I would expect from a team I tried to set up to be dynamic" he added.

Cole is currently paid 100k per week, a deal brokered by England boss Roy Hodgson. Considering Rodgers has already offloaded the likes of Maxi Rodriguez and Andy Carroll in the summer to reduce the wage budget, Joe Cole’s costly Liverpool career could soon come to an abrupt end in the January transfer window.

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