Two Late Headed Winners Should Give Andy Carroll Confidence Boost

Andy Carroll started the last two Liverpool games, and they were important games in some respect. Liverpool ended a four game win-less streak with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Blackburn Rovers. The Reds followed that up with a come-from-behind FA Cup victory over Everton, thus maintaining their hoodoo spell over the blue of Merseyside. In both these games, Carroll scored late winners to emerge as the hero for Liverpool. That the winners were both headed goals made everything all the more sweeter.

When asked about the 87th minute winner, Andy Carroll told ESPN,

"It's the best feeling ever. We worked hard and getting the goal right there at the end was great. I had a few chances and should have probably scored earlier. But I kept at it and it was a great ball in by Craig, and I just had to score with that one and I did. It's a great feeling. I've had some criticism but I've just kept on going. I get the winner here and it's a great feeling. I believe in myself every day."

It's been a while since he had felt the love of the fans. And he certainly felt it after that superb header against Everton.

For some time now, Carroll had looked out-of-sync with his fellow team mates and even worse, the giant had been easily outmuscled by smaller central defenders. These two concerns were addressed by his goals against Blackburn and Everton.

Against Blackburn, Carroll followed up on an Agger flick on to power Liverpool's third goal past Paul Robinson. His anticipation has not been the best this season, but he saw the possibility as soon as Agger jumped and he buried his diving header. That goal was vintage Carroll, The Beast that we knew at Newcastle.

In the FA Cup semifinal, Carroll was surrounded by at least five Everton defenders and yet managed to get the side of his head on the Bellamy freekick to score past Tim Howard. That clearly demonstrates his reputed strength and aerial ability.

So, two game-winning goals have given Carroll a confidence boost. Perhaps he is right after all...all that is needed is an extended run in the first eleven. It takes him a while to get into the pace of the game. So to throw him on with 20 minutes remaining, expecting Carroll to change the game, renders him ineffective.

Tony Adams was nicknamed donkey in his time as an Arsenal defender. He went on to become a Gunners legend and multiple Premier League winner. Andy Carroll is now labelled donkey, at age 23, Carroll has time to turn things round and be a Liverpool legend.