Cole was not punished – King Kenny

(21-01-2011) There was nothing sinister in making Joe Cole play a game for the reserves, insists Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish. The England international midfielder played in a Lancashire Senior Cup tie on Wednesday for the Red second stringers. Dalglish says he just wanted the England man to have a run-out. "Some people look at reserve-team football for first-team players as a punishment. But this was a necessity for everybody,” said Dalglish. "It wasn't a punishment. If it was a punishment, the players would've been told that. It is all very well training but you still need a runabout on the pitch. Joe Cole will get an opportunity."