Will Joe Cole's Move Ensure Liverpool a Champions League Spot in 2011?

One of the most pursued men in the summer transfer window, former Chelsea winger Joe Cole moved to Liverpool to join new manager Roy Hodgson and company in their quest to qualify for the Champions League next season.

Cole, who is now at the age of 28, was able to help Chelsea complete the English double of the Premier League and the FA Cup last season before being part of the English squad that was a major disappointment in the World Cup.

Now, Cole will be joining a Liverpool squad that finished in seventh last season as they got the final Europa League spot with their finish and are currently in a third round qualifier against either the Macedonian side Rabotnicki or Armenia's Mika on July 29 and August 5.

Of course, Cole and the rest of the players who competed in the World Cup will not be called on to participate in this qualifier as they get some rest in.

But, now one must wonder after Liverpool's abysmal showing last year that Cole made the right move to come to Anfield instead of going to either Arsenal, Tottenham or Manchester United.

If Cole decided to go to any of these three sides, he would get a chance to play in some Champions League football this season, which is what Cole would most likely want to do.

Instead, Cole is going to a side in Liverpool that has been in disarray for the last year with ownership issues, managerial issues and the possible departure of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

Now Cole, who has been battling injury concerns and been fighting for playing time over the last several years, could find himself as the player that might need to keep Liverpool in any European competition.

But with a healthy Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, Cole might not have to be the player that keeps Liverpool in European competition as this trio could get Liverpool back into the Champions League.

The last Liverpool player that could offensively do what Cole has the potential to do was Xabi Alonso, who of course left Anfield last August to join Real Madrid.

With Alonso, Liverpool always made the Champions League and made it at least into the quarterfinals every season, except for 2006 when they were eliminated by Benfica 3-0 on aggregate.

So assuming that Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are all healthy next season, will Liverpool clinch a spot in the Champions League for the 2011-2012 season or will we see yet another setback?