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Posts Tagged ‘fitness’

• Carroll scored first goals for Liverpool against Manchester City
• ‘It shows what we can do for next season,’ says striker

Liverpool’s record signing, Andy Carroll, is encouraged by the club’s future prospects even if they fail to qualify for Europe this season. The £35m striker scored his first two goals for the club since joining from Newcastle in January in the comprehensive 3-0 win at home to Manchester City.

Although the victory lifted the Reds to within five points of fifth place, the current incumbents Tottenham have a match in hand – although they still have to go to Anfield.

Europa League qualification remains difficult, although yesterday’s victory has improved their chances, as should City win the FA Cup but fail to finish in the top four a Europa League place would go to the sixth-placed finisher.

But even without continental competition next season Carroll can see the potential which exists within the squad. “We’re just putting a team together now,” said the England international, whose partnership with fellow January arrival Luis Suárez is already showing promising signs.

“Me and Luis are new, Flanno [reserve-team defender John Flanagan] played his first game at the back – and I thought he did great – and it shows what we can do for next season. The team spirit here is great, there are massive names here, it’s a massive club and I don’t see why we can’t attract big names.”

Carroll’s own Liverpool debut was delayed by an injury he was carrying when he arrived from Newcastle, but he finally found his mark in his sixth appearance.

“It was unbelievable. All the lads played well and obviously I got the goals I’ve been wanting,” said the 22-year-old. “I’m here to score goals, though the result is the most important thing and we got the three points. The hat-trick would have been nice but, like I say, the three points is the most important.”

The Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva expects that Carroll will start to score freely now that he has got off the mark for the club. “Everyone is so happy for Andy. For a few games he’s been trying to score and at times has been unlucky,” he said. “He showed what he’s capable of doing, not just with his head but with his feet as well.

“Your first goal is always the most difficult to get. I’m sure now he will get more and more. The way he scored, especially the first which was a great strike in a big game, means he will have more confidence in the next few games for next season as well.

“It’s up to us to keep creating chances for him. We want our strikers to score all the time. Sometimes it is not possible but as a team we have to make sure they feel comfortable and have chances to score goals.”

The Liverpool manager, Kenny Dalglish, has always preached patience when it came to Carroll, pointing out he was signed for the club’s long-term future – not just to save this season after the departure of Fernando Torres. But he accepted they had probably thrust the England international back into action earlier than they would have liked in order to get him up to speed after two months out injured.

“We have pushed him. Normally you get some games to get yourself match-fit but he never had that,” said the Scot. “He came on against Manchester United and then he played against Braga and it went from there. We have tried to help as much as we can but he has been fantastic in his recovery work and the goals are maybe coming now because he is getting up to full match fitness now.

“If he hadn’t scored before last night it was not his fault, it was our fault because we threw him in earlier than we should have – not in a way that would have threatened his fitness, only in a way to get him match fit and sharp and he was that against City. He was unselfish as well because he and Luis Suárez took turns to drop back to try to help and the work both put in was fantastic.”

Andy CarrollLiverpoolKenny Dalglishguardian.co.uk

• Kelly out for up to a month with hamstring injury
• Meireles injured knee in defeat by West Ham

Liverpool could be without Martin Kelly for a month after the defender pulled his left hamstring in the defeat by West Ham United on Sunday.

Kenny Dalglish’s side also have concerns over the fitness of the in-form midfielder Raul Meireles who suffered a knee injury at Upton Park.

The severity of Kelly’s injury is not known but hamstring problems rarely clear up in fewer than three weeks.

“Martin has pulled his hamstring and Raul got a kick in the knee,” Dalglish told the Liverpool Echo.

“Obviously Martin is more serious than Raul. With a hamstring he might be struggling for next Sunday, though I wouldn’t take it as a given because I wouldn’t know.”

“I would have thought with a hamstring it takes a bit longer than a week. With Raul we don’t know.”

LiverpoolJames Callowguardian.co.uk

• Midfielder could play on Sunday after groin injury
• Reds have fitness doubts over Kelly, Agger and Johnson

Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool captain, could return for Sunday’s Premier League trip to West Ham United after three games out with a groin injury.

Gerrard was not risked in Thursday night’s Europa League game against Sparta Prague, but the Liverpool manager, Kenny Dalglish, later said the midfielder was close to fitness.

The Reds will check on the fitness of Martin Kelly and Daniel Agger, who were both forced off during the 1-0 victory over Sparta, and Glen Johnson (Achilles).

Fabio Aurelio (adductor) is out and Andy Carroll (thigh) is still unlikely to make his debut. Luis Suarez returns after being ineligible for the recent European games.

Steven GerrardKenny DalglishLiverpoolPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk