HOLDING court deep within the bowels of Anfield, Joe Cole pauses for a moment to glance at the photographs adorning the walls of the players’ lounge.

There, in glorious technicolour, are reminders of some of the most famous achievements in Liverpool’s long, illustrious history.

One frame in particular catches the new boy’s eye.

It’s one where the team, exhausted but triumphant, are celebrating with the European Cup after their dramatic victory over AC Milan in Istanbul in 2005.

Of course, the Champions League was the one major honour that eluded Cole during his seven-year stay at Chelsea, where he won three Premier League titles, two FA Cups and two League Cups.

And having helped create a legacy at Stamford Bridge, the 28-year-old is now determined to leave a similar mark on a new era at Anfield under manager Roy Hodgson.

“Look at all the pictures around this place and you want more of that,” says Cole.

“The whole club is built on success. I can feel the hunger and the desire here, and that’s a great base to come from.

“The gaffer’s experience and organisation are another positive and with all the quality players they have here, I am convinced we will do better than last season.

“When I had decided to leave Chelsea I didn’t want to rush into a decision, you only get one career, but my first thought was Liverpool and my last thought was Liverpool.

“Now I want to concentrate on helping this club get back up again.

“As soon as I walked into this place I loved it and I believe we can do something special here.

“I left a mark at Chelsea, being part of great teams that won things, Player of the Year and stuff, and I am proud of that. Now I want to leave my mark at a massive club like this as well – I’m really excited about it.

“I wanted to come to somewhere at the start of something and it was easy to come here because it’s such a massive club. It’s all pointing in the right direction.”