'I'll always be ready to fight for this club'
Kolo Toure insisted he was pleased to be back in the heat of battle for Liverpool against Real Madrid on Tuesday, despite him being unable to prevent the Reds from falling to a 1-0 defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Ivorian centre-half was handed only his third start of the season as Brendan Rodgers made seven alterations to his side for the Group B clash against the reigning European champions in Spain.
Aside from two Capital One Cup starts, Toure's only other appearance prior to Tuesday night came as a late substitute in the Reds' win over Queens Park Rangers; however, in Madrid, the 33-year-old was given a formidable assignment.
Cristiano Ronaldo had scored in each of the 12 preceding fixtures for a rampant Real side - but the Portuguese, monitored by Toure, was deprived of the chance to equal Raul's Champions League record of 71 goals on the night as he drew a blank.
Carlo Ancelotti's outfit found a way through, though, with full-back Marcelo showing his attacking class to fire into the path of Karim Benzema, who smashed into the roof of Simon Mignolet's net in the 27th minute.
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After the game, Toure spoke of his satisfaction at being given the chance to feature on one of the biggest stages in world football, before going on to outline his aim to get more game time as the season progresses.
"I have missed games like this," he told the Liverpool Echo. "I play with my heart and I am ready to fight for my club. I know we lost but I am very happy because we played a really good game.
"When you don't play a lot and a manager gives you a chance to show what you can do you give everything you have got.
"At end of the day, everyone worked hard and showed so much determination. We had a lot of players out there who haven't played many games this season but we showed what a good squad we have.
"It doesn't matter what players play here, they will give 100 per cent. You have to be ready and we showed that. As a team, we worked so hard and I am really proud of the boys. We could have got a draw out of it."
Toure knows that Liverpool can still qualify from Group B if they take maximum points from a trip to Sofia to face Ludogorets Razgrad and then triumph in what has the potential to be a thriller at Anfield against FC Basel in the final game.
"We will do everything to win those last two games and get through to the next round," said Toure. "I definitely believe we can do it. If we play with our quality and our heart then we will win those matches."