Carroll: I’m just a couch potato now
ANDY CARROLL has spoken candidly for the first time about claims he drinks too much and insists he has dramatically changed his lifestyle since joining Liverpool.
Pointed comments from former england head coach Fabio Capello last September that Carroll ‘needed to play more and drink less’ increased the scrutiny on the 23-year-old and left many doubting whether he would fulfil his potential.
But Carroll, whose dramatic late goal against everton secured Liverpool’s place in the Fa Cup final, has rubbished the idea he is frequently socialising and maintains he has matured since leaving the north east.
‘When I came here I changed my lifestyle and everything about it and settled down,’ said the £35million striker. ‘I have my girlfriend (Stacey) with me and I love it here. I’ve settled down now. I’ll go down the street and people will say to me, “Oh, you were in the boozer last week”, but it is just rumours going round. I laugh it off, really.
‘To be honest, I don’t go out at all. my family know it’s not true and the club know it’s not true, so that is all that matters.
‘all I do now (after games) is sit in the house with my girlfriend, chill out and watch movies. I’m on the Xbox or I’ll watch TV.’
The statistics back up Carroll’s assertion. He has played in 42 of Liverpool’s 45 games this season with manager Kenny Dalglish admitting they asked too much of him too soon after signing him while he was carrying a serious thigh injury.
‘When I signed I wasn’t fit,’ said Carroll. ‘I kept getting niggles. I’d play one game then have to drop out again. I feel great now and I’m fully fit.’
Liverpool will look to sign a new striker in the summer but their present no 9 is in no mood to give up his place. ‘I want to play for Liverpool,’ said Carroll, who has never started more than three games in a row. ‘I didn’t come here to sit on the bench; I came here to play games.
‘I will work my hardest. I have signed a long contract and I love it and I want to stay. I’m confident that if I’m playing games I will score goals.’
Liverpool will meet Chelsea twice in four days after their Premier League clash at anfield was rearranged for may 8. The fixture was originally due for may 5, the Fa Cup final date.
Liverpool fans travelling by train for the final, which kicks off at 5.15pm, face chaos on their return journey. network Rail confirmed engineering works on the West Coast mainline mean supporters will not be able to get home by train on the night.
d.king@dailymail.co.uk