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• Defender says team were angry after Swansea draw
• ‘It is far from good enough – we have to move up a level’

The Liverpool defender Daniel Agger says his side must raise their game if they are to avoid yet another season without Champions League football.

The Denmark international pulled no punches in his assessment of his side’s goalless draw with Swansea City at the weekend – a result which means the Reds have now failed to pick up maximum points in four of their six Premier League games at Anfield this season.

“Sometimes we looked like headless chickens running around after the ball,” Agger said. “It is far from good enough. Everyone was angry and disappointed – some more than others – but that is the way it is.”

Despite their indifferent form, Kenny Dalglish’s men are only three points off the Champions League places in sixth – but with a game at Chelsea next and then the visit of Manchester City, the leaders, Agger admits now is the time to raise the standard.

“If we play like this, we won’t do it [qualify for the Champions League],” he said. “We have got to move up a level or two. I won’t say it is not possible, because it is, but it is up to the players. We are the only ones who can make a difference. We definitely have to do a lot better.”

Liverpoolguardian.co.uk

• Cole left out of Dalglish’s squads so far this season
• Liverpool agree terms with Evian for Christian Poulsen

Lille are on the verge of completing a season’s loan for Joe Cole, thereby satisfying Liverpool’s desire to save at least some of the 29-year-old’s weekly wage of £90,000.

Cole has failed to recapture his best form since moving to Anfield on a much-heralded free transfer in July of last year. The England international has made only 11 Premier League starts since then, with his appearances coming largely in Europe.

After failing to feature in any of Kenny Dalglish’s squads for Liverpool’s opening three matches of this campaign, it was clear that Cole is deemed surplus to requirements. Dalglish supplemented the Liverpool midfield over the close season with the high-profile signings of Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing.

Cole’s salary, though, was always likely to prove problematic to those English clubs – Queens Park Rangers among them – who courted his signature.

The French champions have no such reservations. Lille, who are competing in the Champions League after winning their domestic title for the first time since 1954, are expected to announce Cole’s arrival on Wednesday, thereby adding some much-needed experience to their squad before entering Europe.

Cole, previously of West Ham United and Chelsea, has played 56 times for England but has fallen out of the picture recently under Fabio Capello.

Lille had earlier been interested in the Monaco striker Park Chu-young, who is set to sign for Arsenal, and Chelsea’s Yossi Benayoun; the latter player was coincidentally offered to Liverpool as part of a swap deal for Raul Meireles.

Bolton Wanderers are confident of signing another Liverpool player, the French striker David Ngog. Although a rival bid is thought to be forthcoming from another Premier League club, Bolton hope to seal the £4m arrival of Ngog before the transfer window closes.

Bolton’s manager, Owen Coyle, has been a longtime admirer of Ngog and is now set to match the 22-year-old’s Liverpool salary in order to tempt the player to the Reebok Stadium. Ngog has scored 19 goals since arriving at Liverpool in 2008 but, like Cole, has found himself outside of Dalglish’s plans. Coyle has been keen to bolster his own attacking options after Daniel Sturridge returned to Chelsea from the Reebok Stadium at the end of a successful loan period.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have announced they have reached an agreement with the French side Evian for the transfer of Christian Poulsen. The Denmark international joined Liverpool on a three-year contract from Juventus 12 months ago under Roy Hodgson but has struggled to make an impact and has not been involved so far this season.

Poulsen, who had also been linked with a loan move to Espanyol, can now discuss terms with a view to completing the move.

Joe ColeLiverpoolLilleTransfer windowEuropean footballEwan Murrayguardian.co.uk

• Denmark defender impressed in 3-1 defeat of Bolton
• ‘It is a joy to go into Melwood every day to train’ says Agger

Daniel Agger is enjoying a new lease of life under Kenny Dalglish. The Denmark international defender has suffered fitness problems in recent seasons but has started all three Premier League games this term and is showing good form.

The 26-year-old is not only happy to be back in the side but has been energised by the Liverpool manager’s approach, his new signings and an unbeaten start to the season.

Agger said: “It is enjoyable, I think everybody will say the same. When you play good football and when things are going the right way, everyone enjoys themselves more. For a team like Liverpool, that wants to go forward all the time, it has been so good this year that so many quality players have come in.

“To make the team stronger we need players like that, we need them all the time. It has been really good and it is a joy to go into Melwood every day to train.”

Agger joined Liverpool in 2006 and feels the football they have played this term has been as good as anything he has experienced. The Reds impressed on Saturday as they swept Bolton aside 3-1 at Anfield.

Agger said: “That is the way we want to play – ever since I joined this club that is the way we want to play. It is not always like that, but if we can keep playing like this I think we can get some points.”

After his fitness problems of the past, Agger feels he is starting to get back towards his best. He said: “I am getting there but I still think I have a lot more to give. You learn to enjoy every single game when you have been out so long and I am definitely doing that now. I love playing football and I want to show that, but I know I have a lot more to give.”

Liverpoolguardian.co.uk