Joe Cole has expressed his belief that former side Liverpool will find it difficult to replace the void left by Steven Gerrard this summer.

The Reds skipper will call time on his illustrious 17-year spell at Anfield at the end of the season when he packs his bags to join Major League Soccer side Los Angeles Galaxy.

Gerrard has played a more restricted role for Liverpool this season, starting just three Premier League games since the turn of the year, but Cole insists that the departure of his ex-England teammate will be firmly felt on Merseyside.

"Any team that loses Steven Gerrard it's going to be tough to replace him we know that. I don't think you can replace him," the Aston Villa winger is quoted as saying by the London Evening Standard.

"He's probably the best player of his generation for England and for Liverpool he's been unbelievable so it's a tall ask but they've got a good manager in Brendan [Rodgers] and he can change things around."

Gerrard played the full 90 minutes of Liverpool's 2-1 FA Cup semi-final defeat against Cole's Villa side on Sunday afternoon.