Kolo Toure lays down marker ahead of the new season…
Liverpool’s new centre-half Kolo Toure is looking forward to a brilliant season with the Anfield side, he told the club’s official website.
The Reds signed the 32-year-old Ivorian defender on a free transfer from Manchester City at the beginning of the summer, and the tough-tackler is raring to go ahead of the new season.
“I’m still really hungry for more. I still think I can bring more in football,” said Toure, who struggled for first-team games last season due to the blossoming partnership of Vincent Kompany and Matija Nastasic.
“This season is going to be massive for me. I will just try to show that I am still one of the best defenders. For a defender, 32 is nothing and physically I feel great.”
Toure will of course be given the task of replacing Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher, who retired at the end of last season. The African knows how difficult this will be, but is ready to step up to the challenge.
“It’s hard [to replace Carragher] because Jamie is Jamie. He was a fantastic player for Liverpool and in his time here, he was amazing,” Toure said.
“For me, I just like to try to do things my way and I will try to do what I can, but I think it’s going to be really difficult to replace him. I will give my all and it’s going to be a great challenge for me.”
Toure is likely to partner Daniel Agger in defence at the start of the season, as Reds manager Brendan Rodgers is not keen on Martin Skrtel. Rodgers wants technical defenders who can play the ball out from the back – and Toure fits this mould perfectly. Alongside Agger, Liverpool could have a defensive partnership that is equally as feisty as it is technically accomplished.
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