Expensive Striker 'Will Be A Success' At Liverpool

Ian Rush believes that Andy Carroll will be a success at Liverpool, but insists the striker needs to be given time to grow and mature as well as building his confidence on the pitch.

Carroll's £35 million fee has become a repetitive talking point associated with the striker's lacklustre performances in the pitch. And the pressure seems to build on the England international with every game to get on the scoring trail and justify his fee.

And as the 22 year old continues to struggle in front of the net, scoring just five times for Liverpool since leaving Newcastle at the start of the year, fans are starting to wonder if Kenny Dalglish's brash move for the starlet on deadline day of the last January transfer window was worth it.

But Rush, who made just under 250 appearances for Liverpool between 1988-1996, believes that when Carroll gets his confidence back, the goals just won't stop from the youngster.

"People go on about it but forget he's only a young lad. It takes time to adjust and that's hard when you're not playing week in, week out," he told Talksport.

"But now he's got a chance and let's hope he takes it. If he does, Kenny [Dalglish] will keep him in every week.

"It's all about confidence. If one goes in off his backside we'll see a different Andy Carroll.

"At the moment he's probably trying too hard. Sometimes you're better off saying you just stay in the last third and telling others to get crosses in. if he gets the supply he'll score goals. I'm very confident he'll be a success."

Carroll's goals are badly needed at Liverpool right now, with the side boasting some of the worst scoring statistics in the Premier League. While the side are defending well, their inability to finish has resulted in disappointing draws this month with Wigan and Blackburn.

And with Luis Suarez looking at the possibility of being ruled out for up to nine games before the season ends, and possibly more if he appeals the finding over racially abusing Patrice Evra and it is found to be frivolous, Liverpool fans are relying on Carroll to repay the faith that was shown in him by Dalglish almost 12 months ago.

But while fans' belief in the starlet might be wavering, the same isn't the case for Dalglish, who insisted that Carroll is on track to achieve big things at Liverpool.

"I don't think self-belief is a problem for Andy Carroll, I don't see why it should be," Dalglish said.

"There's nothing to say he's short of belief and there is no evidence he should be.

"One game he started in we went down to nine men [the defeat at Tottenham] and another [the defeat at Fulham] we had another sent off. I think yourselves [the media] have a bigger problem with Andy than anyone else.

"This week is understandable because it is against Newcastle but I don't understand the rest of the stuff."