Joe Cole was officially a free transfer from Chelsea but Joe Cole was anything but free for Liverpool. On wages estimated to be between £90000 and £13000 a week, Cole was signed by Christian Purslow despite Benitez insisting otherwise. Cole was sent off in his debut against Arsenal, in what serves as an apt metaphor for his dismal Liverpool career. He was constantly injured in one way or another and because of his ludicrous wages it was impossible to offload him until West Ham decided to bring him home, but only if Liverpool would pay a substantial amount of his wages. Cole, throughout his entire Liverpool career looked nothing like the magician that occupied the Chelsea wing. He looked shot and past it - his pace and flair long gone - his body had failed him and with that, any chance of a successful Liverpool career.