Carroll scores, but will still go for Liverpool

Out-of-favour striker Andy Carroll showed Brendan Rodgers what they would be missing this season by producing a deadly finish in Liverpool's 3-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in their final pre-season friendly.

It could turn out to be Carroll's Anfield farewell who is being wooed by former club Newcastle and West Ham.

Whether the 23-year-old Geordie would still be around when Liverpool start their league campaign, against West Brom on Saturday, is highly debatable.

Rodgers sent a strong signal that Carroll does not fit into his future plans by signing Joe Allen from Swansea on Friday.

Ironically, Allen was blocked from making his Liverpool debut on Sunday after Swansea City refused to grant special dispensation for him to play in a pre-season friendly.

Allen signed for his new club after a 5pm deadline on Friday. He needed to be registered with the Premier League before then so he could face Bayer Leverkusen.

Despite being signed outside Premier League office hours, Allen would still have been free to play had the selling club given Liverpool their permission.

Still upset by Allen’s departure, Swansea City refused a request by the Merseyside club and the Wales international was forced to watch from the stands.

Carroll showed a glimpse of how deadly he can be with a 20-yard rocket with Charlie Adam being the provider..

After just four competitive goals in his 20 months on Merseyside, England striker Carroll may have had the last laugh.

Rodgers grudgingly admitted: “It was nice to see him score and it was a terrific goal as well. The big guy has had stick that he can’t play this way but he let it go through his legs and he tucked it away very well.”

Carroll’s goal followed an early thunderbolt from the increasingly impressive 17-year-old Raheem Sterling.

The third came from Lucas, who tapped into an empty net when Michael Kadlec nicked the ball off Luis Suarez’s toe only to set up the Brazil midfielder.

But Rodgers cautioned: “There is still a lot of work ahead but I’m seeing improvement every single day in terms of our short passing game."

There is no room for the likes of Carroll in Rodgers tiki-taka style of play.

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