Why I don’t think it is right to solely blame Andy Carroll

I’ve heard some fans saying that it isn’t a coincidence that Liverpool play better when Andy Carroll is not in the team. The argument goes that when the Reds don’t have a target man up front, the players are forced to be more creative and not look for the easy option. Some will say, this was aptly demonstrated by the replacement of Carroll and Kuyt for Meireles and Suarez, which subsequently led to Liverpool scoring two goals against Arsenal on Saturday afternoon.

For sure, it could be argued that players look to Carroll for an easy out ball, but it has been very evident in Liverpool’s first two matches (apart from the last 20 minutes against Sunderland) that the Reds have tried to keep the ball on the ground as much as possible. In fact, rather than Andy being the culprit for Liverpool’s supposed lack of attacking creativity when he plays, it is those behind him who should take more of the blame.

It was no coincidence that against Sunderland, Liverpool started to look long to Carroll after Luis Suarez was taken off. Considering that he has been at the club barely six months, the Uruguayan is already a central creative lynchpin in Liverpool’s attack. Without him, the Reds attacking creativity is very much blunted and to attribute this failing to Carroll playing up front is overly simplistic.

It is certainly true that Liverpool sprang into life after Suarez and Meireles came on against Arsenal on Saturday, but as well as Suarez making an impact, we shouldn’t underplay the difference Raul Meireles made as well. The biggest problem Liverpool had in creating clear cut opportunities in the first half was the absence of a link up man between midfield and attack. For periods both at the end of the Sunderland match and at times against Arsenal, Carroll lacked any real support when either trying to hold up the ball or knocking down headers from long balls. Such a lack of support will have an impact on Carroll’s effectiveness.

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With Suarez and Meireles absent, much of the onus was on Charlie Adam. Although he improved in the second half v Arsenal, Adam was pretty wayward with his passing in the first half and limited his forward runs to play in a more deep lying midfield role. Jordan Henderson did get forward more often, and played a great deal better than he did against Sunderland, but at 21 he is still learning the game and it would be harsh to compare him with the likes of Meireles and Steven Gerrard who would have provided better link up play between the midfield and the front man.

Whether it is either Suarez, Gerrard or Meireles, one of these players has to start to be that crucial link up man for whoever plays up front.

For Carroll, there will be question marks over his suitability for Liverpool’s side until he starts banging in the goals. From my point of view, playing to his strengths doesn’t necessarily mean the Reds have to sacrifice their expansive passing game. Carroll has good feet and if you provide him with good enough support, he can hold up the ball and lay the ball off to more creative players. In addition, (if Liverpool manage to put in some decent crosses), Big Andy is one of the best headers in the world as shown by the save he forced out of Szczesny on Saturday. Let’s not be too quick to judge, it is only the second game of the season and the Reds are still finding their way.

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