Who do Liverpool need to sign to retain the title? Keep up with all the Reds news with our free daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Kolo Toure believes Liverpool’s injury hoodoo won’t become a crisis - if their youngsters can channel a consistent fighting spirit.

And the veteran defender joked they can take a lead from his performance at Stoke, which he reckons can earn him a move to Real Madrid!

Toure is the last man standing in the Reds central defence – and even then only on one leg, after an heroic performance at the Britannia Stadium where he led his side to victory despite being crippled by muscle problems.

The 34-year-old believes the time has come for a youthful Anfield squad to show their mettle by understanding they have to fight in every game, and not just when it suits them.

“We have a young team and they need to learn the past is gone and every performance is a challenge where you must give 100 per cent no matter who you play,” he explained.

In pictures — Stoke 0-1 Liverpool:

“That is what happened to me in my career. You learn there is no time to relax. To come to Stoke and play like we did is one thing, but if we go to Exeter [for Friday night's FA Cup third round tie] and think it is going to be easy, then we will find ourselves in a tough game.

READ MORE:

“We need that team spirit in every game. If you think you are going to win easily, then you have no chance because this is a very difficult league – anybody can win.

“We lost that game (at West Ham) because there was less commitment but at Stoke we showed great fighting spirit.”

Toure was at the heart of that spirit, and one moment where he dived headlong to block a ball despite being unable to run typified his performance.

And when asked what he will do when his contract is up at the end of the season he joked: “If I can play like that then maybe I will go to Real Madrid!

"I don’t know what I am going to do but I would like to stay in the Premier League playing football because I love it.”

(Image: Action Images via Reuters / John Sibley)

Toure is also prepared to put his body on the line to solve Liverpool’s defensive crisis on Friday, even though he’s a doubt with muscle injury.

And he believes the likes of holding midfielder Lucas Leiva will rise to the challenge to join him in a makeshift defence.

“We are under pressure of course. We are losing a lot of centre backs right now but we are a team and we fight and defend as a team and Lucas was the man of the match,” he added.

READ MORE:

“He is good as a centre-half, and because we play as a team he knows he is not on his own and he has players who will cover for him.

“Every time we have had to deliver, we have delivered. We have a tough manager and you can see how the team plays and fights together.”

Toure's Liverpool record:

Win percentage:

With - 67 per cent

Without - 33 per cent

(Image: Reuters)

Goals conceded:

With - 0.4

Without - 1.2

Points per game:

With - 2.3

Without - 1.4

Liverpool injury crisis:

Kolo Toure – cramp/muscle, 1 week

Dejan Lovren – hamstring, 3-6 weeks

Philippe Coutinho – hamstring, 3-6 weeks

Mamadou Sakho – knee, 2 weeks

Jordan Henderson – heel, 2 weeks

Divock Origi – hamstring, 3 weeks

Martin Skrtel – hamstring, 3 weeks

Jordan Rossiter – hamstring, 3-6 weeks

Daniel Sturridge – hamstring, 1 week

Danny Ings – cruciate ligament, 5 months

Joe Gomez – cruciate ligament, 5 months

Jon Flanagan – knee, 2 weeks

Daniel Cleary (U21 centre half) - knee, two weeks

Tom Brewitt (U21 centre-half) - concussion, 1 week

READ MORE: