Joe Cole admits regret over transfer to Liverpool from Chelsea in 2010

Joe Cole has revealed regrets over his move to Liverpool in 2010, as he also claimed that he opted for a move to Merseyside because he 'couldn't go to Spurs'.

The former England international revealed his afterthoughts during a recent podcast appearance, where he detailed how injury struggles called an end to his time at Chelsea.

Speaking on The Obi One podcast, Cole explained: 'I done my knee and that was probably the start of the end of my career because I was never the same player after that.

'I done everything, ACL, PCL, MCL - I was out for 11 months. Chelsea were right, from a business perspective. They stopped contract negotiations to see how I was when I came back.

'I came back in October. By this time, Carlo Ancelotti had come into the club, I was coming in off the bench, playing well, but it was hard to break back into the team.

'The guys went away to the Africa Cup of Nations in the January. I knew I'd have a chance to play regularly.

'I played every game, six, seven or eight games in a row, played really well and then they started, 'we can offer you this new contract', but it wasn't at what it was before.

'My ego got involved a little bit and football was more of a struggle. I would play and my knee would blow up. I was in a lot of pain.

'Something clicked and I thought to myself, 'I'm never going to get back to the player I was. I've got to leave'.

'Because I didn't want to finish my Chelsea career just sitting there on the injury table.'

Cole added: 'I had a choice between Liverpool or Spurs because Arsenal pulled out - I just couldn't go to Spurs.

'It would have made sense, Harry Redknapp was the manager, they had a good team, I lived in London, half my pals are Spurs fans. I just couldn't do it.

'Liverpool is a great club. It didn't work for me there but it is a fantastic club.

'But if I could have my time again, I would probably go abroad, somewhere hot, because playing in the heat actually helped my knee.'

After making the move to Merseyside in 2010, Cole scored just five times for the Reds during his 42 appearances before leaving to join West Ham in 2012.

During his seven-year stay at Chelsea, Cole made 282 appearances and found the back of the net on 39 occasions.

Cole played 42 games for Liverpool, scoring five goals and had a loan spell at Lille during his time at the club.

He left Merseyside to make an emotional return to West Ham.