Babel’s spell at Liverpool could be neatly encapsulated by his first-half appearance in last week’s Europa League qualifying play-off first leg against Trabzonspor, in which he failed to overly convince in a striking role before producing a sublime finish to despatch Joe Cole’s throughball.

That strike, which gives Hodgson’s men a slender advantage going into this evening’s second leg in Turkey, was his last contribution before being substituted at the break for Fernando Torres.

And Babel says: “The goal was a big confidence boost for myself. It was a good set up by Joe and I was fortunate that I could take it.

“I didn’t expect to come off, but that was the manager’s choice.

“He was pretty direct about that and said Fernando was going to play in the second half. He already had that in mind even if I played well.”

With Torres, Steven Gerrard and refusnik Javier Mascherano among those left back at home, Babel is expected to start at the Huseyin Avni Aker Stadium this evening with Liverpool aiming to seal their passage to the group stages of the competition.

So too Cole, who is currently in the midst of a three-match domestic suspension following his red card against Arsenal.

Despite creating Babel’s winner, the new boy blotted his copybook somewhat by missing a penalty in the second half against Trabzonspor that would have made tonight’s task against the current Turkish league leaders significantly more comfortable.

“I’m not a penalty taker,” admits Cole. “I hold my hands up and admit that it wasn’t good enough and I am anxious that we get the job done so it won’t matter.

“But I’ve made two goals in two-and-a-half games and if I keep that ratio up for the rest of the season, I think everyone will be happy.”

Liverpool lost 1-0 on their previous visit to Trabzon in October 1976 when en route to a first European Cup success, and Cole anticipates a similarly tough encounter.

“They were two weeks away from winning the league last year and we probably got the toughest draw possible out of the pot we were in,” he says.

“They are a good side and it is always difficult playing in hostile atmospheres but we have got to have confidence we can see it through.

“It would have been nice to take a two-goal lead there but we have got a job to do and we have got to make sure we do it. We’ve got to be ready to fight.”

PROBABLE TEAMS.

TRABZONSPOR (4-2-3-1): Kivrak; Balci, Glowacki, Korkmaz, Cale; Colman, Gulselam; Yilmaz, Inan, Bulut; Gutierrez.

LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Reina; Johnson, Kyrgiakos, Carragher, Aurelio; Lucas, Poulsen; Kuyt, Cole, Babel; Ngog.