Cole: Reds lacking cutting edge

Joe Cole admits Liverpool have to rectify their poor goalscoring form if they are to claw their way back up the Premier League table.

Cole, who returned as a substitute in the 0-0 draw with Stoke on Sunday for the first time since injuring his hamstring on the opening day of the season, conceded that Liverpool lacked a killer instinct. Brendan Rodgers' side remain in 14th place in the table, without a win at home this season, and having scored nine goals in seven games, five of which came against strugglers Norwich. The Reds hit the woodwork three times against Stoke, but it was the outside of the upright each time rather than a close call, and they were chances squandered rather than a case of bad luck. "There was a bit of frustration in the dressing room after the Stoke game," Cole told www.liverpoolfc.com. "We felt we should have won the game with the chances we had. "The only criticism of us that I would have was that we didn't stick the ball in the back of the net. We just lacked that final bit. We have two weeks now to work on it and we're looking forward."