KENNY DALGLISH has claimed there is an unhealthy and unfair “obsession” with Andy Carroll.

Liverpool’s €40 million signing from Newcastle United last January is taking his time to find form and fitness on Merseyside and regularly finds himself warming the bench but Dalglish maintains this slow-burn beginning to Anfield life should not raise eyebrows.

“I think people are obsessed with Andy Carroll,” said Liverpool’s manager before tacitly acknowledging the 22-year-old England striker remains a work in progress. “I’m an old guy and I’m still learning; I don’t understand the paranoia with Andy. People talk about him like they know him. They don’t know him. They talk about his lifestyle – what lifestyle? Everybody is obsessed with Andy Carroll.”

Even Fabio Capello, England’s coach, has expressed reservations about Carroll’s fondness for a beer but Dalglish offered a stout defence of his British record signing’s lack of first-team starts.

“I don’t think Luis Suarez started against Arsenal,” he said. “We’ll be better off with a good squad of players than just a team. We don’t have a problem with anybody here. Andy is young. But he’s an excellent player and will be a valuable asset for us. He knows that we are on the same side as him. That’s important. We’ll always look after him and I’m sure he’ll look after us.

“I don’t understand the obsession. There are other players who haven’t played either. The price tag is irrelevant. If we get someone in on a Bosman, does that mean he is rubbish? Should he not play because we haven’t paid any money for him?”

Warming to his theme, Dalglish stressed that Liverpool was a meritocracy and, for all the club’s faith in Carroll, the former Newcastle cult hero would not be afforded any special favours.

“We’re delighted with the business we did in January for Andy Carroll but picking out individuals is not something we like to do here,” said Liverpool’s manager. “Everyone will be treated the same way, whether they are the most expensive or the cheapest.”