Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish: Andy Carroll’s return did not cause disruption against Tottenham

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Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has refuted suggestions that Andy Carroll‘s return to the starting line-up was the reason behind the club’s defeat to Tottenham at the weekend.

The Reds forward started against Spurs after recovering from injury, but Dalglish’s men lost 2-0 at Anfield to put Harry Redknapp’s side in pole position to qualify for next season’s Europa League.

Now the Scot is adamant that the return of Carroll did not prompt the setback.

“They are professional footballers. I don’t think a change in the way you play should contribute to a change in your attitude,” Dalglish said, according to the Liverpool Echo.

“Football teams change formations all the time, you just have to overcome these things. It is not a disruption when you put Andy Carroll in your team.”

With one game left to go, Spurs currently occupy fifth place in the league and are two points above Liverpool. And despite the recent defeat, Dalglish hailed his players for the improvement they have shown in the past few months.

“They have played brilliantly since January, gone about their work and surpassed all expectations,” he said.

“We are dependent on other people now to finish fifth when we could have finished it but it has been a fantastic effort to get close. We can only look after ourselves.”