Suarez, Carroll keys for Liverpool, says Dalglish

25 September 2011 01:35

Kenny Dalglish believes the partnership between Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll is developing at the right time ahead of a critical run of games that could define Liverpool's season.

Liverpool face forthcoming matches against neighbours Everton and Manchester United, while they have aspirations in the League Cup with their fourth round tie due to take place at Stoke also next month.

The sight of Steven Gerrard's return from injury against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, with the captain having been forced to miss the start of the season through injury, was another major boost for Liverpool manager Dalglish following successive league defeats.

But it was the form of Suarez, and his flourishing relationship with £35 million strike partner Carroll, that will give Dalglish and the rest of Anfield the greatest source of comfort.

And while talk of comparisons between the pair and Kevin Keegan and John Toshack, who terrorised defenders during their six-year association in the 1970s may be premature, the early signs are there that the Suarez-Carroll axis can be as formidable as their predecessors.

"I don't think they have played too many times together before," Dalglish said. "It's interesting to see them and they were half decent.

"Luis has been outstanding since coming to the club. We are fortunate to have him and we look forward to many more years working with him.

"The same could be said for Andy. He did everything except score a goal against Wolves.

"We couldn't get more out of the big fella. I'm happy for him and delighted. We have played better and lost in recent weeks but we were good value for the win.

"Of course seeing Steven back is great news. It's encouraging. He got a great reception from the fans and that's what you expect given what a player he is."

Liverpool's season has been a stop-start affair. A combination of poor refereeing decisions, red cards and injuries has stalled their progress in recent weeks after a promising start.

They will hope they have turned the corner after a Roger Johnson own goal and a solo strike from Suarez was enough to inflict a narrow victory over Wolves.

The Black Country side's win at the same venue last season saw former manager Roy Hodgson lose his job following a miserable reign on Merseyside.

But it's a different story under Daglish. And while euphoria has been replaced by a reality check in recent weeks, with Suarez, who arrived £22million move from Ajax in January, in this form there can be few doubting he now provides the cutting edge Liverpool have long been missing.

"Luis will get the headlines once again and continues to impress. He took his goal superbly but it wasn't just that which impressed everyone,"

"His workrate is second to none and appears to be getting better and better."

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has seen his side slip to a third league defeat in a row to burst their early-season optimism.

"I'm happy where we are. We have had one poor performance, and that saw us lose against QPR," he said.

"Nobody was getting carried away when we were winning and we are in the same position now that we fallen to a couple of defeats. As long as we cut out our mistakes defensively, we will be alright."

Source: AFP