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Posts Tagged ‘bulgaria’

• Fabio Capello questioned the £35m striker’s drinking habits
• Dalglish asks that Carroll be judged on performances

Kenny Dalglish has dismissed criticism of Andy Carroll’s lifestyle as “totally unfair” and insisted there is no concern at Liverpool over the striker’s form or drinking habits.

Carroll has been left out of the starting lineup by both club and country in the past fortnight and his omission from the England sides that faced Bulgaria and began the game against Wales was accompanied by a warning over alcohol consumption from Fabio Capello. Dalglish took issue with the media rather than the England manager as he defended his £35m signing from Newcastle United, arguing it was an old story blown out of proportion despite Capello reiterating his doubts only this

• Liverpool manager pleased with striker’s levels of fitness
• Fabio Capello had suggested Carroll ‘needs to be careful’

The Liverpool manager, Kenny Dalglish, has defended Andy Carroll in the wake of criticism from the England coach, Fabio Capello.

The 22-year-old did not make the bench for England’s Euro 2012 qualifier in Bulgaria on Friday and prior to Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Wales Capello voiced his concerns over the player’s drinking and general fitness. It is a subject Capello has raised before but Dalglish said there were no issues with the striker.

“As we’ve said before Andy was not properly fit last season because of a knee injury but we have been pleased with his level of fitness this season because he has lost that injury,” said the Scot. “I think Andy is very appreciative of advice from anyone who has a good standing in football.

“I think he appreciates Capello’s advice because he has great respect for Fabio and Fabio has great respect for Andy.”

At the end of last season Carroll missed England’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland – and the European Under-21 Championships – due to injury and during the summer he was pictured partying on holiday in Barbados.

It prompted Capello to say this week: “Andy needs to be careful. I don’t know anything about his lifestyle. It is a private problem that I never spoke about.

“But if he wants to be a good player and a good sportsman, he needs to drink less than the others. He is not at the top of his form at the moment.”

Andy CarrollKenny DalglishLiverpoolEnglandguardian.co.uk

• Competitive comeback still scheduled for mid-September
• Fábio Aurélio injured again but Martin Skrtel close to return

Steven Gerrard will return to light training with Liverpool this week as the club captain continues his recovery from the infection that ruined his start to the new Premier League season.

The Liverpool midfielder has not featured for Kenny Dalglish’s team since March due to groin surgery and his scheduled return in August was postponed when he suffered an infection related to the operation. Gerrard was released from hospital almost a fortnight ago and has been granted permission to resume light training. “Stevie will be stepping up his recovery this week,” Dalglish said.

Liverpool have not, however, revised Gerrard’s comeback date of mid-September and the 31-year-old is expected to miss England’s European Championship qualifiers against Bulgaria and Wales at the start of next month.

Martin Skrtel will also return to training at Melwood this week as he recovers from a calf injury suffered in pre-season, but the luckless Fábio Aurélio is facing another extended period on the sidelines having damaged his achilles tendon in training on Friday. Liverpool have yet to discover the full extent of the injury-prone defender’s