JOSE ENRIQUE has marked his new life at
Liverpool by coming out fighting for under-fire pal Andy
Carroll.
Enrique got a shock debut against Sunderland on
Saturday, 24 hours after arriving from Newcastle, but had to be
content with a disappointing draw.
Giant hitman Carroll, 22, had a goal chalked
off.
But he found himself in the spotlight after another
quiet display and it has led to claims the Kop paid way over the
odds for the £35million England striker.
But Enrique, who spent four years with Carroll at St
James' Park, is convinced his mate will have the last laugh -
because he is only now approaching full fitness.
Carroll spent his first six months at Anfield
battling thigh then knee injuries and he is still to hit his peak.
And Enrique said: "I watched him play last season and I knew he
wasn't fit.
"I don't care if the player is Lionel Messi or
Cristiano Ronaldo, if a player isn't fit they cannot play
properly.
"But Andy's still playing very well in his position
and he is going to be an important player this season.
"He was brilliant at Newcastle and I am sure he will
be brilliant for Liverpool.
"When a club like Liverpool pays £35m for anyone
it's because they think he is a good player, and I'm sure Andy is
going to do a lot of very good things for us."
Enrique, 25, himself is still en route to match
fitness after a summer spent trying to leave the Toon.
He admitted that has made for a tough start at
Liverpool, but has told Kop fans they will swiftly see the best of
him.
The Spanish left-back added: "I am not 100 per cent
because I have not trained with the team and I need to get to know
everyone.
"But that's normal and in the next few games, if I
continue to play, it will be easy to understand the
others.
"At Newcastle I had to attack a lot, but here we
have amazing players in all positions, so it will be
different."
Saturday's draw piles the pressure on to get a
result at Arsenal on Saturday, when the Reds will once more be
without Steven Gerrard.
The Liverpool skipper is some way from playing after
an infection following groin surgery, but is making good progress
with his recovery.