Carroll Has The Weight Of £35m On His Shoulders

Last updated : 30 March 2012 By Footy Mad - Editor

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Danny Simpson: "I still speak to him. He's been at Liverpool a while but we're still friends.

"I'm sure he's looking forward to coming back up here and hopefully he'll get a good reception.

"He's still got the quality, is still a threat and still dangerous so we're going to have to be aware of him.

"It's been tough for him but people forget he's still young. He didn't ask for that price tag, obviously Liverpool put that on him.

"He's got ability and he's still young. When you look at the strikers they have had over the years it's a big move for him and there is a lot of pressure on him.

"But I think he seems to have calmed down a lot and in the last few weeks he has been playing well.

"He's still got the quality, is still a threat and still dangerous so we're going to have to be aware of him. I don't mind him playing well but I don't want him to score.

"It's a massive game for us.

"To be eight points clear of Liverpool at this stage is fantastic."

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Carroll now knows the names of the legends who have played as centre-forward for the mighty Red Machine ... and I think it sunk in very quickly that he is not a patch on any of them.

Despite the record-breaking price tag - would he make it into the Top Ten Greatest Liverpool Strikers?

I know for a fact he wouldn't make it into the Top 100!

Ahead of Carroll's return to his former club, the Liverpool manager has insisted he has no regrets about shelling out £35 million on the striker.

Carroll joined Liverpool in January of 2011 when the Reds were forced to go up to £35m to prise him away from Newcastle.

The England international has found it tough living up to that price tag, as he has bagged just six goals this season, and he will be under the microscope when the Reds travel to St James' Park on Sunday.

Liverpool's decision to invest such a vast sum in Carroll has been questioned but Dalglish is content with his outlay on the forward.

Kenny Dalglish: "People are entitled to their opinion.

"There are always going to be people saying it was good [business] or bad. But that doesn't make any difference really.

"We were delighted to get him and we are still very pleased to have him.

"Some settle in quicker, but Andy's settled in the area now and he's worked really well to progress his career."