Firing blanks: Carroll's last league goal for Liverpool
came in January... against Wolves
Feeling the pressure: Carroll has revealed just how
tough his massive price tag is proving to be
Misfiring Liverpool striker Andy Carroll has
admitted privately that he is struggling to cope with the pressure
of the £35million price tag that made him the most expensive
British footballer.
Carroll and his Liverpool team-mates head to Blackburn
tonight hoping to win only their second Barclays Premier League
game since the end of January.
It is understood that the 23-year-old is determined to
make things work at Anfield and still believes he has what it takes
to prove himself a valuable asset on Merseyside.
However, he feels his best form will not come until he can
forget about the enormous amount Liverpool paid to take him to the
North West from his home city.
One friend of Carroll said this week: 'Andy isn't unhappy
at Liverpool - he thinks Kenny Dalglish has been supportive and he
still thinks he can make it work.
'But one of his main problems is the fact that Liverpool
paid so much for him.
'He feels that the size of the fee wasn't his fault but
that he has had to deal with the consequences of it being so huge
and a record.'
Carroll has scored only five times in the Premier League
since arriving at Anfield and only eight times for the club in
total.
At Newcastle, he had an impressive record of 31 league
goals in 57 league starts.
Dalglish is preparing to leave some of his key performers
on the bench tonight against Blackburn at Ewood Park in an attempt
to safeguard Liverpool's FA Cup ambitions.
Skipper Steven Gerrard is likely to be the biggest name
held back ahead of Saturday's Wembley semi-final showdown against
Everton, while leading goalscorer Luis Suarez and defender Daniel
Agger could also be rested.
Taking a tumble: Carroll endured a torrid time on his
return to former club Newcastle
Taking a tumble: Carroll endured a torrid time on his
return to former club Newcastle
