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Posts Tagged ‘looking-forward’

• ‘The No9 is the shirt I wanted,’ the 22-year-old reveals
• Carroll looking forward to partnership with Luis Suárez

Andy Carroll has spoken of his pride at being handed the Liverpool No9 shirt following his £35m transfer from Newcastle. The events surrounding the move from St James’ Park may be in dispute, but the 22-year-old was keen to look forward to his future at Anfield.

“It’s just a great feeling [to sign for the club],” he told the official club website. “Liverpool is a massive club and it’s nice to be wanted by a club like this, never mind turning up and being here with everyone around. The No9 is a big number and the one I wanted. To get it at Liverpool is a great feeling.”

Carroll revealed that he was surprised to hear of Liverpool’s interest, and he soon realised it was an opportunity he could not afford to pass up. “I was a bit surprised and didn’t really know what was going on at the time,” he said.

“When I knew it was real and that there was a chance for me to come here I knew it was a great opportunity and I had to take it.” I want to go out there and play the football that has brought me here. I want to score goals, set up goals and carry on playing football

The former Newcastle centre-forward Alan Shearer has already stated how much he think Carroll will learn from working with Kenny Dalglish, the Liverpool manager, and Carroll is relishing the opportunity to work with Liverpool’s caretaker manager.

“It’s really exciting,” he said. “He’s a great man, a great manager and I’m looking forward to getting started. He has told me to settle myself in, get fit and get ready to start playing. I want to go out there and play the football that has brought me here. I want to score goals, set up goals and carry on playing football.

“Liverpool is a big club which is going places and this is a chance to show what I can do. What I did at Newcastle has got me here and now I have to carry it on with Liverpool.

Liverpool also yesterday completed the signing of Luis Suárez and, once Carroll returns from injury, he is looking forward to teaming up with the Uruguay international and he believes that goals will quickly follow.

“It’s going to be great to partner with him,” Carroll said. “He’s a great player but I’m looking forward to playing with all the lads. There are some great players here and I just hope I can fit in well.

“Goals have always been in my game so I’m very confident I can score for Liverpool. I’ll bring as much as I can to the team, I’ll score goals, create chances, hold up the ball and just try my best really.”

Andy CarrollLiverpoolEvan Fanningguardian.co.uk

• Internazionale the likely destination for Argentina midfielder
• Hodgson plays down fears over Fernando Torres exit

Javier Mascherano wants to leave Liverpool, the club’s manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed. Hodgson has been speaking to the Reds’ key players since taking over from Rafael Benítez at Anfield and while Steven Gerrard has indicated he wants to stay, the Argentina captain Mascherano is keen to move on, with his preferred destination a reunion with Benítez at Internazionale.

Hodgson has had more positive news from the Spain striker Fernando Torres, who has confirmed his intention to return to the club on Monday and to remain at Anfield.

“Yes, he wants to leave the club,” confirmed Hodgson when asked about Mascherano. “He has made that perfectly clear. I think he wanted to leave a year ago. He wants to leave now but he is contracted to Liverpool so whether he leaves or not will be our decision.

“He is a Liverpool player and will continue to be treated as a Liverpool player until such a day arrives when he no longer is. The mere fact that the player is a little bit unhappy with his situation and would prefer to leave does not necessarily mean that he will do.

“It disappoints me but it is not unusual. I think in every club throughout the world there are players playing in the team who would prefer to leave. Some are allowed to, some are not allowed to. Mascherano is a Liverpool player with a two-year contract. I expect him to honour that contract until the day comes when the club decides to accept an offer for his services.”

Recent speculation suggested Torres was keen to play Champions League football this season and was considering his options. Hodgson said that was not the message the club had received from the Spain striker.

“As far as I know he is looking forward to coming back here; he is back on Monday,” he said. “He is enjoying a holiday – a well-deserved break as he has not had one for three years. He is spending a lot of time with his family, keeping a low profile and as far as I know he is not really speaking to anyone.

“But he has told us that he is looking forward to Monday, looking forward to getting back to work and looking forward to playing for Liverpool next season. That is what I know so other reports, I would suggest, are erroneous.”

Liverpoolguardian.co.uk