'King of assists' will help Andy
Former Red Steve McManaman today insisted Andy Carroll will benefit from the return of 'the King of assists'.
Carroll could lead the line for Liverpool in tonight's FA Cup third round clash with Oldham at Anfield, with Steven Gerrard also pressing for a starting place after several appearances from the substitute's bench over recent weeks.
And McManaman insists a fit and in-form Gerrard could be the key to setting Carroll on the goal trail for Kenny Dalglish's men.
"If Carroll and Gerrard both play against Oldham, as I would hope, I think Andy will do well, because Stevie is the king of assists," he said.
"Liverpool have missed his passes, which unlock tight games. They have missed his set-piece delivery... and nobody has missed him more than Carroll.
"Gerrard will help him a lot. In the same way that he helped Fernando Torres a lot.
"His ability to deliver telling passes and crosses at the feet of Liverpool's strikers has been arguably their greatest strength for a decade now.
"With Suarez out of the picture for a month, hopefully Carroll will get a run of games in the side to find that consistency.
"Carroll only needs one to go in off his backside, or a hat-trick against lower-division opposition in the Cup, and he could be flying."