Kolo: I'll always be prepared to step in
Kolo Toure reflected on his second Champions League start of the season with a mixture of disappointment and defiance, insisting he will always be ready to fight for the team when called upon.
The Ivorian was handed a place in the Reds' starting line-up for the penultimate Champions League Group B clash against Ludogorets Razgrad in Sofia on Wednesday night.
It was the centre-back's fourth start of the campaign in all competitions after Brendan Rodgers opted to field the former Arsenal and Manchester City man in his XI at the Santiago Bernabeu against Real Madrid.
Toure turned in an impressive display against the reigning European champions and so, when the Reds journeyed to Bulgaria, the defender with 53 Champions League games under his belt was restored to the side.
But the night started and ended in frustration for Liverpool as Dani Abalo dealt them a shock by scoring after just three minutes of play and Georgi Terziev pounced to equalise with two minutes of normal time remaining.
Sandwiched in between two sobering strikes was an improved display from the Reds, according to Toure, who is targeting more minutes over the coming weeks, in order to help restore the team to peak form.
"For me, to play in those big games is so important," he told Liverpoolfc.com. "That's why I'm here. I just want to help the team. Every time the manager calls on me, I'll do my best to help the team get a good result.
"We fight as a team. It's always difficult when you keep losing games. I think we got a reaction tonight. This season has been tough, but when there are tough times, that's when you see tough people. We'll keep fighting."
Liverpool can qualify to the knockout stages of this year's competition if they beat FC Basel at Anfield on December 9, in a game that already promises to play out in front of a special atmosphere under the L4 floodlights.
Only a victory will be good enough to secure qualification, however, with the Swiss side currently two points clear of the Reds in second place and Ludogorets now eliminated from the tournament.
"We came to get a result [in Sofia], which was a win or a draw," said Toure. "We got a draw and that brings us to the last game.
"It's difficult because we conceded a late goal. But at the end of the day, I think the most important thing is that we're still in there [with the chance to qualify]."