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Liverpool's Andy Carroll (L) challenges West Bromwich Albion's Gareth McAuley during their English Premier League soccer match at Anfield in Liverpool, northern England, April 22, 2012. (REUTERS)
If Liverpool need any more convincing that in Andy Carroll they have a ‘cup’ player (and therefore they are a cup team) they need only look at the goals missed against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.
Carroll, along with a few others, could have easily had a hat-trick.
Close to 20 scoring opportunities went a-begging.
West Brom had one. That is all they needed. Peter Odimwingie scoring the winner.
Click to read Reds sink to a new low
It’s now a bit passé to talk about price tags. Especially given that with each passing game Carroll’s reduces to a level that Liverpool can’t even contemplate getting rid of him.
Maybe that is why manager Kenny Dalglish is not talking about letting his 35-million pound blunder go.
Ironically, it will be Liverpool’s player of the season Luis Suarez – who was the only one to come out of yesterday’s game with any credentials – that may leave in the summer.
The biggest spenders of next season are unlikely to be from Manchester or even from Madrid.
It is Paris St Germain and its new Qatari backers that are gearing to take the summer transfer windows by storm.
Carlo Ancelotti is in charge and he has made it clear he wants Suarez and possibly even Edin Dzeko from Manchester City.
Liverpool may be stuck with Carroll. Is Anfield willing to live with Carling and FA Cups?
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However, Carroll insisted his confidence has been shattered by Dalglish's player rotation policy.
“I didn’t come to Anfield to sit on the bench,” Carroll was quoted as saying in the British press.
He added: “I am confident in myself that, if I am playing games, I will score goals and put myself about.
“I cannot really do that if I am on the bench and coming on in the last 10 minutes of games.
“It has just been difficult in terms of not playing.
"I feel I have given it my best shot."
Whether it would be enough salvage Dalglish's job remains to be seen.
"What I want is to start games and put myself about like I know I can. When I haven’t been playing, you get low on confidence. I think that is the same with every player.
“It is always hard when you come into a team and you haven’t been playing every week. It is always hard for anyone just to perform straight away and when you don’t know if you are going to be in.”
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