Source: Daily_Mail
Anfield hails new king Luis Suarez as £35m striker Carroll makes a low-key Liverpool debut
So Liverpool did do well in the January sales. [LNB]After taking the decision to offload a terrace icon for ?50million, they must feel they got lucky bringing in two for the price of one. [LNB]Hearts may have been broken on the Kop when Fernando Torres traded Anfield Road for the Kings Road five weeks ago, but any mourning which followed that dramatic transaction is well and truly over. [LNB]The reason? [LNB]Step forward Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll. [LNB] Kop star: Luis Suarez sets up Dirk Kuyt's opening goal against United after eluding defenders Rafael (left) and Chris Smalling (right)[LNB]While Torres continues to find his feet at his new club - he is improving slowly but has yet to score - Suarez has had no such problem, and the manner in which he tormented Manchester United defenders yesterday cemented this new Liverpool love affair. [LNB]From the moment he just failed to connect with a Raul Meireles cross to when he left the pitch with the majority of a 44,753 crowd standing in unison, the 24-year-old oozed star quality. [LNB]The highlight, undoubtedly, was the gravity-defying slalom on 34 minutes that carried him past four desperate challenges and gifted the opener to Dirk Kuyt. [LNB]Debut: ?35m arrival Andy Carroll heads goalwards[LNB]Yet there was much more: relentless running, constant creating and a sense of enthusiasm in everything he did. [LNB]Suarez even showed the dark side of his game when grabbing a clump of Rafael's hair after the United right back had lunged wildly at Lucas. [LNB]Some will point out that running rings around Chris Smalling and Wes Brown is far easier than trying to hoodwink Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, as Torres did more than once as Liverpool's No 9. [LNB]But, simply, it wouldn't have mattered who Ferguson deployed in the centre of his defence. [LNB]Suarez, who cost ?22.8m from Ajax, knew he had an opportunity to establish himself as a Liverpool favourite and it was not a chance he intended to squander. [LNB]Torres could easily have cast a long shadow, and had the little Uruguayan struggled to adapt to the Barclays Premier League, mumblings on the Kop would have become more and more voluble that Liverpool had come off badly in the transfer merry-go-round. [LNB]Not now. Suarez scored on his debut against Stoke and put in enthusiastic performances against Wigan and West Ham. [LNB]But turning on the style in a game that really mattered means the Torres chapter at Liverpool can be closed once and for all. [LNB]Like all the best players, Suarez has that special something. [LNB]In Uruguay, they call it picardia; loosely translated, it means being able to make things happen and so far at Liverpool that is what he has done. [LNB] Making an impact: Kuyt (second right) salutes Suarez (right) after his great work to set up the first goal[LNB]Kuyt may have headed home with the match ball but Suarez departed with a magnum of the sponsor's champagne. [LNB]And what of Carroll? [LNB]The build-up was all about him and, curiously, Kenny Dalglish spoke more about the 22-year-old in his post-match briefing than he did about Suarez. [LNB]Great start: Dalglish (right) happy with Carroll's start[LNB]Not sighted in a red shirt since making his ?35m switch from Newcastle, this was supposed to be Carroll's big entrance. [LNB]The reality was different. [LNB]The game had ended as a contest when he was introduced 16 minutes from time - and his biggest contribution was a header that Edwin van der Sar comfortably collected. [LNB]Yet there is no denying Carroll will be as popular as Suarez. [LNB]Aroar erupted at 3.05pm when Dalglish beckoned him from his warm-up andyou sense it won't be the only time he has the Kop on their feet.[LNB] 'Luis and Andy are both excellent goalscorers but both have very different styles,' noted Liverpool's Maxi Rodriguez. [LNB]'Asa midfielder, it is exciting to be able to link up with players oftheir quality. I am sure they will help this team move forwards.' [LNB]He is not the only one with such a view. It was a big decision to allow Torres to leave and it could easily have backfired. [LNB]Theevidence so far, though, is that Liverpool have come out in front - andnot everyone can say that after they have been shopping in January.[LNB] Liverpool 3 Manchester United 1: Kuyt a hat-trick hero for Dalglish as United's title bid suffers another blowShow some respect, Fergie! Liverpool boss Dalglish cranks ups the tensionAll the latest Liverpool FC news, features and opinionAll the latest Manchester United FC news, features and opinion[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Nemanja Vidic, Andy Carroll, Rio Ferdinand, Kenny Dalglish, Wes Brown, Dirk Kuyt, Maxi Rodriguez, Fernando Torres, Edwin Van Der Sar Places: Newcastle, Liverpool
