Cole: They're very, very talented
Joe Cole insists Liverpool can take plenty of positives from their 2-2 draw against Young Boys at Anfield on Thursday night – such as the way Jonjo Shelvey asserted himself in an unfamiliar forward role.
Cole struck what many fans believed would be the decisive goal in securing the Reds' progression from Europa League Group A after Anzhi Makhachkala had comfortably beaten Udinese earlier in the evening.
As it was, Elsad Zverotic had the final word when he hammered a late equaliser past Pepe Reina and into the Anfield Road net to peg Brendan Rodgers' men back with two minutes of normal time remaining.
"Overall it's a disappointment not to get the right result," insisted Cole. "We were through at one point but one goal can change things in football.
"We were a bit disappointed we didn't see the game out but we still have to take positives. The young lads came through again and collectively had another great game for us. Shelvey got another goal, Suso played fantastic and hopefully Andre Wisdom is okay after his injury.
"I thought in particular Jonjo was brilliant tonight. He's a young lad playing out of position and he showed a lot of maturity. That is why he is a full England international now. I have watched him develop.
"I think the young lads here are very, very talented. It is similar to when I was coming through at West Ham and we had plenty of talent playing Premier League football at the age of 17, 18 and 19.
"There's a bright future for all the young lads. The best thing is that they are all good young men who just want to learn."
For Cole, the game was his fourth appearance in all competitions since returning from a hamstring injury sustained against West Brom on the opening day of the Barclays Premier League season.
And the 31-year-old is adamant he can feel his fitness levels improving with each game.
"It was nice to play - I felt stronger," he said. "It was my third game I have started since I had a bit of a false-start with the pre-season followed by injury.
"But there's no rocket science about it - if you're a footballer and you return from injury for one game and after that you play a second, you feel a little bit better. And in the third game, you feel better still.
"You have more fitness and match strength. I'll continue to try my best and we'll see what happens."
Victory when Liverpool travelled to Switzerland in September means they need only match Young Boys' result in the final game of the group stage against Anzhi Makhachkala, to progress.
Meanwhile, a win against for the Reds against Udinese will automatically see them through to the knockout stages.
"I think it will be a hostile environment over there," said Cole. "They are a good team. They have Antonio Di Natale up front, who has got great movement and is one of the best strikers in the Italian league.
"They came here and won - which isn't easy. So it will be a tough game.
"But it will be a good game. It will be exciting for the fans and the players and we have to win the game to guarantee qualification and those are the games you want to play in as a footballer."