Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed that he sold striker Andy Carroll to West Ham United in order to allow Luis Suarez to shine at the club.
Both of the strikers arrived at Anfield in the same season, but it was clear that there was going to be one star and that was the Uruguayan, who was in fact the cheaper purchase.
At the time, it was Kenny Dalglish that brought the duo in, but as soon as Rodgers arrived from Swansea City, he allowed Carroll to leave on loan to Upton Park, and eventually the £35million-man left on a permanent basis for just £15m.
Speaking ahead of the clash against West Ham, Rodgers admitted why he sold the Englishman.
‘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.
‘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.’
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles
