Liverpool legend Rush backs £35m flop Carroll

Former Liverpool striker Ian Rush backs £35 million signing Andy Carroll to come good at some stage this season despite dropping down the pecking order at Anfield.

The England international has been struggling to retain a regular place in Kenny Dalglish’s starting line-up since his much heralded move from Newcastle.

“He is a young lad. He just moved. Everyone thinks it’s easy (to move) from North east to North west. It’s not that easy. He just needs time to settle in,” said Rush who is in Dubai to take part in Liverpool Soccer Clinics for clients, stakeholders and employee’s children of Standard Chartered Bank.

Rush believes Carroll has a role to play in Liverpool’s ongoing Premier League campaign although he has been overshadowed by Uruguay international Luis Suarez.

“Luis Suarez is in great form at the moment. There will come a time when he most probably goes off form. That’s when Andy will come in. That’s what it’s all about. It’s not about individuals,” said Rush who holds the club record of 346 goals in 660 appearances.

“I think they got the right manager to coach him along there. Yeah it is a high price they say. Andy Carroll didn’t ask for that. Basically Liverpool were quite prepared to do that. I believe in him. The manager believes in him. There will be a time probably this season when he will be needed. I’m sure he will come good for Liverpool,” said the Anfield legend.

He even went onto say that Carroll could feature in Liverpool’s big game against Premier League leaders Manchester City on Sunday despite being benched in the last game against Chelsea.

“You have to be patient because Kenny will pick teams again certain opposition. Against Chelsea he chose (Luis) Suarez and (Craig) Bellamy. Against Manchester City it could be a different Andy Carroll. Kenny is not scared to change a winning team. He will sit down with his assistant Steve Clark and look at the opposition and decide who is the best team to play against them. If it’s Andy Carroll he will play him because he believes in him. We all believe in him,” said Rush at a press conference on Thursday in Dubai.

Dalglish played down the fact that Carroll score his first two goals for his new club as the Reds won 3-0 in April.

“You take into account what is happening at the moment,” said the Scot.

“Andy scored two great goals against them last year but we got our reward for that and so did Andy.

“But that is not to say because he scored two last year he will do the same this year - you are giving yourself a bit of a problem if you think that's you finished.

“We will start afresh, Andy included, for the game on Sunday and if we can repeat the same result everyone will be happy.

“Almost every week we say we are happy with the strength of the squad and there are many examples of when that is reflected in the team selection and the results they have got.

"It is no surprise to us so I don't see why it should be a surprise for anyone else.

"We have a strong squad who have been a credit to themselves and the club."

Carroll has scored three goals this season, two in the league, but his demotion to the bench last weekend was not a reflection of his form.

"I went on record as saying Stoke (the Carling Cup win) and West Brom were his two best games for us and I don't think we were too far away in those," added Dalglish.

Asked who would win Sunday’s clash, Rush was positive that Liverpool would come up trumps against the only unbeaten side in the Premier League.

“Yeah they can be stopped but they are genuine title contenders now. They’ve got a great start. After 11 games, yes they are favourites to win the league. I don’t think Liverpool will lose against Manchester City. I think they will beat them. You have to think positive,” said the Anfield great.

Rush believes the key to success is winning at home and against the so-called minnows.

“I don’t think it’s the big teams that is the problem. It is the so-called lesser sides that come to Anfield. We got draws against Norwich, Swansea and Sunderland. If you are going to win the league, like Manchester United (last season) you have to win home games. Man United when they won the league last year they won most of their home games,” he said.

He feels the test for Manchester City will come in February.

“They’ve set the standard now. It will be interesting come February if Manchester United are up there. They know how to win when it comes to pressure. Pressure will be on Man City come February. They are five points ahead and have a bit of leeway now but whether they got enough points to afford to lose games will be known in February,” said Rush.

 

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