Andy's on Red Alert

Andy Carroll has declared himself ready to make a dramatic Liverpool debut at the weekend.

And the most expensive British player in history could even start against Manchester United in the hottest clash in Premier League football, after coming through an intensive training session yesterday.

Carroll joined in with his team-mates for a training session at the Melwood complex, and afterwards reported no discomfort from his problem thigh when involved in a short-sided game, which saw him partner Luis Suarez up front.

Manager Kenny Dalglish could be tempted to unleash that pairing on his biggest rivals on Sunday, after Carroll confirmed he emerged from the session unscathed.

It is far more likely, of course, that the striker will be eased back into action gently, after being sidelined for more than two months with the thigh injury, which he picked up at previous club Newcastle.

That would see him offered a berth on the bench for the showdown with Liverpool's bitterest rivals, but the mere presence of the £35million centre-forward would offer a massive boost to Dalglish and his team.

The Reds boss has been reeling this week from an injury crisis that threatens to undermined his plans to derail United's quest for a record breaking 19th league title.

He has lost defenders Martin Kelly and Daniel Agger, and with Fabio Aurelio still out, that means he doesn't have a recognised left-back for one of the biggest fixtures in world football.

With attack-minded Maxi Rodriguez likely to start on the left of midfield, it will leave that flank massively exposed, and United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is sure to try and exploit the injury problem, by using the pace and guile of Nani on his right wing.

But the presence of Carroll would offer Anfield a lift just when it is needed, with the Liverpool faithful desperate to see their new signing in action.

Carroll began training more than two weeks ago, and was pencilled in as a potential prospect for the bench at West Ham at the weekend, but suffered a minor setback in the midweek when he felt a small twinge in the thigh.

That ruled out any participation in training and in the game, in which Liverpool lost their momentum of recent weeks with a disappointing 3-1 defeat after a poor performance.

But that momentum can be clawed back by the presence of Carroll on Sunday, and unless he suffers a further setback during training for the rest of the week, then he seems certain to be on the bench at least.

That will please Dalglish, who is looking for a reaction from his team after their listless display at Upton Park.

He called a team meeting yesterday, and explained that he showed them the horror show in anticipation of a response.

"We sat down with the players and they can go through the game. We had a look to make sure we learn from the mistakes that were made," he explained.

"It is a question of looking to see where we went wrong and trying to repair it. Collectively we will move forward but we won't dismiss it. A week's training will do us no harm at all."

Source: Daily Mirror

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