Andy Carroll tells Liverpool fans to 'wait and see' if he's worth £35m
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool's record signing Andy Carroll is not worried by his £35million transfer fee and is confident he can fulfil his potential at Anfield.
The 22-year-old has inherited Fernando Torres' number nine shirt after his move from Newcastle on Monday but does not want to be compared to the Spain international, who left for Chelsea in a £50million deal the same day.
"It was a lot of money but I need to do what I have to do to prove the money was worth it," he said.
"I am here to score goals and create chances for the team and that is what I can do.
"I have scored goals at Newcastle and that is what I want to bring here - we'll just have to wait and see (whether the transfer fee was worth it).
"Obviously Torres was a great player but I need to concentrate on my own game and play the football I know I can."
Despite claim and counter-claim about the means of his departure from St James' Park, Carroll is just focusing on a fresh start at his new club.
"I have got massive respect for Newcastle and it is my team and my home club and I'm not really going to talk about what happened at Newcastle," said the striker.
"It means a lot to me but I am a Liverpool player now and that is what I have to concentrate on."
Carroll was introduced at a press conference in Anfield's trophy room alongside fellow new signing Luis Suarez, who briefly held the club transfer record after his £22.8million switch from Ajax.
Unlike his team-mate, the Uruguay international has been able to make an immediate impact, coming on as a substitute and scoring the second goal in front of the Kop in Wednesday's 2-0 win over Stoke.
"I think it is a dream debut," said the 24-year-old, who had a prolific record in Holland with 111 goals in 159 matches.
"Anyone would say it is a dream debut. Just to be on the field for a few minutes and to manage to score in front of the Kop, it's what dreams are made of.
"I hope I can score as many (goals as I did in Holland). The first target for me is to help the team, whether it's scoring goals or just helping out in general play, because what counts is the team, not individuals."
Despite losing Torres, manager Kenny Dalglish said he was delighted to have brought in two quality signings with the money they received for the Spain international.
And he had no qualms about the fee paid for Carroll, who arrived at Anfield carrying a thigh injury.
"I'd like to reassure Andy we are more upbeat about Andy coming than I think yourselves (the media) are, because every question seems to have negativity in it," Dalglish said.
"We have no reason to be negative about Andy signing for Liverpool. It is a great signing for us, as Luis's is.
"We will look forward to getting him fit, up and ready for work and he'll play when he's good and ready."
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