Liverpool glory shields goalless Carroll

Liverpool are the first club to have a trophy in the cabinet this season. And while Gerrard (Steven) & Co can bask this morning in the glow of the Carling Cup, the cynic still has to question whether Wembley glory is papering over some crucial cracks.

Most notably, a 35 million pound striker whose penchant for going missing in big games is more assured than him scoring any goals.

Cardiff was to offer Andy Carroll the chance to shut the doubters up. Instead, he fuelled the fire by failing to score again.

Mark Hudson made a brilliant sliding tackle to stop Carroll and it was Carroll who met Downing's corner for Suarez to head against the post, before the ball came out for Skrtel to slot home an equaliser.

However, Carroll is now beginning to take on a Fernando Torres hue when it comes to the question of: does he, and can he, score goals?

Kenny Dalglish saw a six-year wait for silverware end at Wembley yesterday and he has backed Carroll to come good.

He marked his first full season back in charge with a nailbiting penalty shootout triumph over Cardiff from the Championship.

As long as the Reds follow Dalglish’s clarion call and kick on after their first slice of success since the 2006 FA Cup, Carroll can take his time.

"We are here because of all the hard work everyone has put in, not just me. It's also down to the owners and the players and the closer we are the better we will be. Everyone has worked as hard as they can to take the club forward. We have won a trophy but that is not us finished. We deserved our first trophy in six years but need to continue to work hard and see where it takes us,” Kenny said.

Now the FA Cup is next on the horizon.

Liverpool face Stoke at Anfield in the sixth round.

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