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'Stressed' Poulsen dropped

Image: Poulsen: Has only made 12 league appearances since signing for Liverpool last summer.

Liverpool midfielder Christian Poulsen has been dropped by Denmark coach Morten Olsen because he is stressed.

Midfielder not in right frame of mind to play

Liverpool midfielder Christian Poulsen has been dropped by Denmark coach Morten Olsen because he is stressed by his predicament at Anfield. The 31-year-old only moved to Liverpool last summer in a £4.5million deal from Juventus but fell out of favour when Kenny Dalglish replaced Roy Hodgson as boss in January. The summer arrivals of midfielders Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam have further pushed Poulsen down the pecking order and the Merseyside club have admitted they are prepared to sell the former Schalke and Sevilla man. Despite his lack of playing time over the past year Poulsen remains captain of the Denmark national team. However, he has been left out of the squad for a crucial Euro 2012 qualifier against Norway next month, with Denmark manager Olsen believing Poulsen needs to find a new club and get settled before he can be considered for his team again. "He's stressed by his situation, that's why I've chosen to overlook him this time," said Olsen. "We hope that Christian finds a good club and gets playing time so that he can return against Portugal and Cyprus in October."

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