Kenny Dalglish has claimed Liverpool put too much pressure on Andy Carroll to return from injury last season but will witness a marked improvement in the £35m striker now that his fitness levels have increased.
Carroll has made a slow start to his Liverpool career since becoming the most expensive British transfer in January, scoring twice in nine appearances last term following his move from Newcastle United and being withdrawn in the 71st minute of Saturday's win at Arsenal as Dalglish capitalized on the dismissal of Emmanuel Frimpong by introducing Luis Suárez from the bench.
The England international arrived at Anfield with a thigh injury that delayed his Liverpool debut by five weeks, however, and then damaged his knee at Arsenal in April. And Dalglish has taken responsibility for Carroll's failure to make an impression last season, with the exception of a commanding performance against Manchester City, with an admission the striker was brought back from injury prematurely.
"Andy's fitness is an improvement since last season because he was never really fit when he came here," said the Liverpool manager, whose substitutions worked to perfection against Arsenal with Raul Meireles and Suárez instrumental in the late victory.
"We pushed him in probably earlier than we should have last season and it wasn't particularly fair on him. It's best to judge him when he's fully fit. Last season, we were a wee bit unkind on him and asked a bit too much of him. This season he certainly looks a lot fitter. Andy is 22. Every time he'll play, people will ask if that's the best he can be. But you never stop. You always want to improve."
Carroll is the most expensive part of Liverpool's £110m recruitment drive in 2011 and with £58m recouped through the sales this year, the club remains keen to offload several players deemed surplus to requirements before the close of the transfer window.
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