CISSOKHO JOINS LIVERPOOL

 

Aly Cissokho says he can't wait to get going after completing his season-long loan to Liverpool.

The Valencia left-back has been unveiled by the Reds and is now set to make his debut against Aston Villa on Saturday.

He is likely to push Jose Enrique down the pecking order at Anfield as Brendan Rodgers freshens up his side for their Champions League push.

Cissokho, who will wear the No 20 shirt, said: 'I feel extremely proud to be here and I'm proud of all the hard work I've put in so far throughout my career.

'I've always dreamt of one day signing for a really legendary club. I've been lucky enough to play for a few top sides and so to now get the chance to play for a club like Liverpool, it's just fantastic.

'I've always said, along with a lot of other French players, that I really love the English league, and although I've been fortunate enough to have played at some big clubs, in the back of my mind, I've always wanted to play in England.

 

'It's really pleasing when a club like Liverpool shows interest in you, and when that interest becomes more serious, you really can't wait for the move to go through. Now that the transfer has been completed, I'm really happy.

'I hope to feature in as many games as possible, I know it's going to be quite tough and I need to get to work as soon as possible as pre-season is over and we are into the league programme.'

Cissokho has already played at Anfield after being part of the Lyon side that won 2-1 win in the Champions League group stage in 2009.

He added: 'I was fortunate enough to play at Anfield and it was a really special occasion for me. I have some great memories of that night. Although it was us that grabbed the win, it still remains a good memory.

'We'd been preparing for that game for four or five days before, on the outskirts of Liverpool at a golf hotel in Formby and, of course, a game against Liverpool at Anfield was something special for myself and the whole team.

'Although we knew it was going to be tough, we managed to win, and so that made it an even bigger occasion for us, as did the special atmosphere of the crowd - so typical of England and especially Liverpool.