Joe Cole: This has been the worst period of my career.

Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole has conceded that he is enduring the most difficult time in his career to date.

The 28-year-old was manager Roy Hodgson's first signing at the club, and was handed the No.10 shirt upon his arrival on Merseyside.

But the former Chelsea man's career at Anfield began in ignominy as he was sent off during his first league game for the club, following a tackle on Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny.

In the next game, a Europa League tie against Trabzonspor, Cole missed a penalty as the Reds managed to scrape a 1-0 victory.

And in the most recent match - the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park - the midfielder put in another under-par performance as the Reds fell to a 2-0 defeat, slipping to 19th position in the table.

"I have never had a period like this before," said Cole, according to the Daily Mail.

"I need to find my form somehow. I need to do a lot better, but I’m only looking at myself, no-one else.

"I am desperate to do well for Liverpool and, every minute of every day, I am thinking about how I can get there. I know I’m not playing well. I expect a lot better of myself, but at least I am at a club who are going to help me through it."

Falling to 19th place means that the Reds are now in their worst position in Premier League history, amid calls for Hodgson's head.

But the creative playmaker insists that the team is firmly behind the gaffer, saying: "We are right behind the manager. We all believe in the team and in the club.

"We have just got to stick together. We are doing a lot of things right but we have got to cut out what we're doing wrong.

"It's disappointing to lose such a big game [against Everton] but in these situations, the worst thing you can do is start pointing fingers at each other. We have got to look at ourselves. We have got to do better."