Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish insists flop summer signing Joe Cole still has a future at Anfield.
Cole was brought to the club when his contract with champions Chelsea expired at the end of last season, but the 29-year-old has struggled to make an impact on Merseyside.
The England international was then named in a second-string side that played in the Lancashire Cup on Wednesday night, beating Manchester City 1-0, and that 45-minute appearance sparked speculation that he was not part of new manager Kenny Dalglish’s plans.
But Dalglish, who replaced Roy Hodgson earlier this month, said: “All the players are starting afresh now and it is up to them to impress.
“Joe will get an opportunity. If they want to play, they have got to impress.
“Some people look at reserve-team football for first team players as a punishment, but this was a necessity for everybody.
“It wasn’t a punishment in any way, shape or form and, if it was a punishment, the players would have been told that.
“I will say to Joe what I will say to every player - we will give every single one of them every opportunity to impress in whatever way we can.
“At the end of the day, Liverpool FC is going to be the benefactor.
“And, I have to say, they have all impressed since we have been here. We can only put 11 on the pitch.”