Liverpool Sign Joe Cole, What Do The Markets Say?

Liverpool have confirmed the signing of former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole. Read more in the Telegraph.
Fresh start: Joe Cole is looking to revive his career after leaving Chelsea

This has to be a good signing for Liverpool, but much will depend on them keeping Torres and Gerrard. Certainly they have a good manager in place, but what do the bookies say?

Following the news that Joe Cole has signed for Liverpool, William Hill offer 1/4 to start Liverpools first game of the season and 11/4 that he does not. Hills have also priced him at 7/4 to score 5 or six goals, and he is 13/8 to score more or less than this. Liverpool are 2/1 to finish in the top four and 4/11 to not.

Joe Cole is the marquee signing that every Liverpool fan was hoping for. Whilst the odds suggest that his arrival may not propel Liverpool into the Champions League, it seems it will at least tempt star players Gerrard and Torres to stay, with the two of them odds on to be Liverpool players on the 15th of August, said Hills spokesman Joe Crilly.

William Hill Joe Cole Specials:

Start First Game: Yes – 1/4; No – 11/4

Total Number of Premier League Goals: Under 5 – 13/8; 5-6 – 7/4; Over 6 – 13/8

Liverpool to finish in the Top 4? Yes – 2/1; No – 4/11

To Score vs. Arsenal On Debut: 9/4

To be at Liverpool on first day of Premier League Season?

Javier Mascherano

Yes – 10/3

No – 1/5

Fernando Torres

Yes – 2/5

No – 7/4

Steven Gerrard

Yes – 1/6

No – 7/2

Stan James bet 4/7 that Joe Cole scores 6 or less Premier League goals this season and 5/4 he scores 7 or more Prem League goals for the Reds

Liverpool have been left unchanged at 12/1 for the Premier League and are 7/4 to qualify for the Champions League next season, 11/10 to qualify for the Europa League and 5/2 to miss out on Europe.

Head of PR Charlie McCann: “Joe Cole is a very good signing for the Reds when you consider that he looks a more than adequate replacement for Yossi Benayoun but we still believe Liverpool are a club in transition and will struggle to return to their glory years in the short term. That said Cole’s signature shows that reports of Liverpool’s demise are premature and the next few weeks will be interesting to see if the club can keep their trio of big-name players in Mascherano, Gerrard and Torres. Not yet a new era but a step forward that’s for sure.”

Joe Cole PL goals 2010/11:prices from Stan James
Over 6.5 5/4
Under 6.5 4/7

To win the PL 2010/11? 12/1

To qualify for CL? 7/4

To qualify for Europa League? 11/10

Not to qualify for Europe: 5/2

JOE Cole is 2/1 to score against Chelsea this season after signing for Liverpool.