January arrivals at Liverpool have not vindicated decision to allow Andy Carroll to join West Ham says Brendan Rodgers
The England striker was allowed to move to Upton Park on loan
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists that Liverpool’s successful January transfer window does not vindicate the club’s decision not to replace striker Andy Carroll.
Rodgers was permitted to reinforce his squad in the new year, and additions such as Daniel Sturridge and former Inter Milan midfielder Philippe Coutinho have proved to be popular and successful investments. However despite that success, Rodgers, who took charge at Anfield in June 2012 following a prosperous period in charge at Swansea, admits the club did not strengthen the squad sufficiently last summer after allowing Carroll to join West Ham United on a season-long loan deal.
"We would have liked to bring in a few more players in the summer but we didn't, and the group were admirable with what they coped in that period because we had a lot of games. We knew we had to bring in reinforcements in January and the board worked superbly to get those players.
"We are hopeful that come the summer we can make more additions that will take us on to the next level. So there was no vindication really, just that Andy wanted to play games every week and at the time there wasn't the availability to bring in a replacement. The business we did in January however was excellent and that's a great credit to the club," said Rodgers.
Carroll, who joined Liverpool from boyhood club Newcastle for £35m in January 2011 but struggled to settle on Merseyside, has been dogged by persistent injuries during his spell at Upton Park, but has contributed to the Hammers' cause with five league goals and Sam Allardyce has voiced his desire to keep him at the club beyond the end of the current campaign.
Prior to Sunday's televised Premier League clash between Liverpool and West Ham, Rodgers heaped praise upon his new arrivals, specifically Coutinho, who he believes has both the guile and strength to prove a big hit in English football.
"He might be slight in stature but he's still got real power and mental strength too, plus he's a wonderful technician," said Rodgers.
"I don't think that there is any question that he can cope with the physical demands. He's a Brazilian boy so as well as all the technique, skill and flair; you also find that they are tough. There haven't been too many Brazilians that have come into this country and have not succeeded. They tend to be robust and when you mix that with their technical and tactical qualities, I think that a player like Philippe will be a great addition for us."
For more insight from Brendan Rodgers and other leading managers plus exclusive Premier League highlights go to www.yahoo.co.uk/sport
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