Luis Suárez returns for Liverpool but Dalglish keeps faith in Carroll

[admin]

<div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.22.4/57415?ns=guardian&pageName=Luis+Suarez+returns+for+Liverpool+but+Dalglish+keeps+faith+in+Carroll%3AArticle%3A1700227&ch=Football&c3=Guardian&c4=Premier+League+2011-12%2CLiverpool+FC+%28Football%29%2CTottenham+Hotspur+%28Football%29%2CPremier+League+%28Football%29%2CFootball%2CSport&c5=Unclassified%2CEuropa+League%2CPremier+League&c6=Andy+Hunter&c7=12-Feb-06&c8=1700227&c9=Article&c10=Feature&c11=Football&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FFootball%2FPremier+League+2011-12" width="1" height="1" /></div><p class="standfirst">Uruguayan had to wait while his manager focuses on rehabilitating the £35m striker</p><p>The masks were ready, the T-Shirts were on sale again outside Anfield and Liverpool prepared to make up for lost time with Luis Suárez on his first appearance since commencing a nine-match Football Association ban last year for improper conduct and racially abusing Patrice Evra. Then the team-sheets landed and changed the script from the rehabilitation of the Uruguay international to that of Andy Carroll. It is a process the former Newcastle United man, at least, has seized</p><p>Suárez being Suárez, he found a central role in the only controversy of an incident-lacking draw against Tottenham Hotspur with a kick into the chest of Scott Parker, a foul more clumsy that malicious and which earned a yellow card from referee Michael Oliver four minutes after he had taken to the field. He also squandered a glorious chance to win the game late on when he planted a free header from a Steven Gerrard free-kick straight into the grateful arms of Brad Friedel.</p><p>There were similar frustrations for Carroll as he wasted a clear opening from Martin Kelly's cross and headed just over in the closing stages. But given the starting point in his Liverpool career when Suárez last started a game on Boxing Day, and his all-round contribution against Spurs, another encouraging display from Carroll augured well for Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool challenge on three fronts.</p><p>There is no disputing Suárez's pre-eminent position among Liverpool strikers this season but Dalglish was justified in not granting special dispensation to the Uruguayan after he had spent exactly six weeks stewing on the sidelines. Like any other player, Suárez had to earn the right to win back his place and not one among Carroll, Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy deserved to make way for Liverpool's headline-maker-in-chief, the focus of the television cameramen as soon as he entered the pitch for the substitutes' warm-up.</p><p>A little over two weeks ago, when a 3-1 defeat at Bolton Wanderers prompted a withering condemnation from their manager, it appeared the loss of Suárez had hurt Liverpool as gravely as they feared when his eight-match suspension began and that a return to the starting line-up would be automatic. Only Bellamy had shown form worthy of a side with aspirations of qualifying for the Champions League but, belatedly, Carroll and Kuyt made crucial contributions to a response that ended Manchester's interest in domestic cup competition for the season, revived Liverpool's campaign and maintained that form in the comfortable win at Wolverhampton Wanderers last Tuesday when all three featured on the score-sheet.</p><p>Even so, it would have come as a relief to Carroll to retain the faith of his manager and it was an important call from Dalglish to persist with the £35m striker despite the availability of Suárez. Being a young, strapping centre-forward, and one criticised for having an alleged laissez-faire approach to the game, does not make Carroll immune from a damaging loss of confidence, as his performances had showed prior to the influential display in the FA&nbsp;Cup win over Manchester United. No amount of public praise from Dalglish, the latest coming in the wake of revelations that Liverpool had enquired about swapping the England international for Carlos Tevez, can compare to being asked to lead the line against title-chasing opposition. This was Carroll's third consecutive start in the Liverpool team, equalling the best run he has been given all season. He needs far more before a considered judgement can be delivered.</p><p>It should also have assisted Carroll's response to complaints over a lack of movement to have Gerrard moved out of central midfield and deployed behind him. The adjustment almost paid dividends in Liverpool's first attack when their captain pierced the Tottenham defence, rekindling memories of the fruitful supply-line he once provided for Fernando Torres, and Carroll peeled off the shoulder of the recalled Michael Dawson.</p><p>It required a perfectly executed challenge to prevent the striker testing Brad Friedel in the visiting goal.</p><p>The early combination proved a false dawn for Carroll and Liverpool who, for all their promise around the Spurs' area, did not escape behind Dawson and the commanding Ledley King that easily again throughout the first half. Carroll almost created a clear opening for himself before the interval but slipped as he turned onto a fine piece of control. Otherwise his aerial presence was often required in the Liverpool half while Bellamy and Kuyt were afforded little room by Kyle Walker and Benoit Assou-Ekotto, the Spurs' full-backs.</p><p></p><p>Carroll did win his share of headers against the Tottenham central defence but, unlike Evra in United's recent visit to Anfield, the runners were well-marshalled. Kuyt only escaped from Benoît Assou-Ekotto once to a flick-on from Carroll and set up a thwarted shooting opportunity from Charlie Adam as a result before the inevitable arrived. Liverpool were in need of ingenuity to supplement the centre-forward's impressive work-rate and the wait was finally over in the 66th minute for Anfield and Suárez.</p><div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/premier-league-2011-12">Premier League 2011-12</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/liverpool">Liverpool</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/tottenham-hotspur">Tottenham Hotspur</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/premierleague">Premier League</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/andyhunter">Andy Hunter</a></div><br/><div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div><p style="clear:both" />
<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/h-8XblLqz1-5TOwf94F5dEr54pE/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/h-8XblLqz1-5TOwf94F5dEr54pE/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/h-8XblLqz1-5TOwf94F5dEr54pE/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/h-8XblLqz1-5TOwf94F5dEr54pE/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/theguardian/football/rss/~4/n8gnnsUCsiw" height="1" width="1"/>

More...