I had to consider Carroll go to carry the flower of out Suarez... 'everything would have had to be adapt up around the massive guy' proof Rodgers

I had to consider Carroll go to carry the flower of out Suarez... 'everything would have had to be adapt up around the massive guy' proof Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers has explained why Andy Carroll had to be sacrificed to turn Luis Suarez into one of the most feared finishers on the continent.
One of Rodgers’ first acts after succeeding Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool manager was to offload Carroll to West Ham on a season-long loan and he subsequently sanctioned a £15million permanent move.
As Liverpool prepared to face West Ham at Anfield on Saturday, Rodgers opened up on why the burly target man had to go to make way for a formula that has helped Suarez shine.

World class: The in-form Liverpool forward Luis Suarez has thrived since Brendan Rodgers' arrival

The Liverpool frontrunner edged ahead of Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero as the Barclays Premier League’s top scorer with 13 goals after
his stunning four-goal haul against Norwich on Wednesday.

Rodgers said: ‘My thinking was that, when you play with a target man, he becomes the focal point of your team, so everything has to be set up around the big guy. Sometimes you get sucked into doing it more direct, and clearly, with my history as a coach, I don’t work that way.
‘Removing that means you have to connect your game better through the lines, through the thirds. Possession is not good enough on its own, you have to penetrate. That’s what Luis does. He is always on the move, in spaces and in behind defenders.

Struggling for fitness: But West Ham striker Andy Carroll is nearing a first-team return

‘He can drift along the back line, he spins on the shoulder and he has got that freedom to do what he does best. You look at the goals he has scored in my time here, and not too many have been from whipped in crosses, which, to be fair, big Andy was brilliant at. The style has brought out Luis’ qualities.’
Meanwhile, Sam Allardyce fears no amount of planning will be able to shackle the ‘unstoppable’ Suarez.
The West Ham boss had two assistants at Anfield watching Suarez and, despite keeping the Uruguayan quiet as West Ham earned a 0-0 draw in the same fixture last season, Allardyce is concerned about another goal glut.

Key man: Luis Suarez even appears to have replaced Steven Gerrard as Liverpool's most important player

Contrasting views: Kenny Dalglish (left) felt Andy Carroll could be a key player, unlike Brendan Rodgers

‘However hard we plan and however much we do, a man of his talent — if he’s in that mood — is sometimes an unstoppable player.
‘However well we might master him, like we did last season, there still might be a bit of genius and  brilliance that we just can’t stop.
‘He is a unique centre forward in this country in terms of the places he pops up in. If the central defenders think they’re going to mark Luis Suarez all game they won’t, because it will be the full backs sometimes or your centre midfield players.

Struggle: Despite costing £35million, striker Andy Carroll rarely impressed or look settled at Liverpool

‘If you can control him you’ve got a 50 per cent better chance of getting a result.’
Allardyce said he found it ‘extremely tough’ resisting the temptation to put Andy Carroll on the bench.
Carroll is training at the club’s Chadwell Heath base after his long-term ankle injury but Allardyce insists he will bring the striker back only when he can last the game.
‘In the position we’re in it’s extremely tough (to resist),’ he conceded. ‘I’d like to put him on the bench for Liverpool but that would be rather stupid.
‘We’ll do it as quickly as we possibly can but we’ll take a sensible view.’