Liverpool Transfers: Why Andy Carroll Has to Stay

Andy Carroll may have been disappointing in his first full season with Liverpool, but that doesn't mean the experiment with the English striker should end so soon.

Carroll, who cost the Anfield outfit £35 million, was expected to come in and be as effective as he was during his time with Newcastle United.

However, since making the move to Anfield, Carroll has scored just six goals in the EPL. Those numbers will need to improve under new manager Brendan Rodgers.

Here are a few reasons why Carroll must stay with Liverpool.

Proven Talent

Andy Carroll's goal-scoring drought since arriving with Liverpool should be filed away as a concern, but not a severe one.

Yes, Carroll has failed to show consistency, but he's shown in the past that he's a capable goal scorer when put in the right situation.

At 6'3'', Carroll proved himself as an aerial threat in the box during his time with Newcastle. As well as his lofty transfer fee, it's the promise that he showed with his former club that created such sky-high expectations in the first place.

Carroll's 2009-10 campaign put him firmly on the map. He scored 19 goals in all competitions for Newcastle, and followed up with 11 goals to start the 2010-11 season before moving to Liverpool.

While frustrating at times, it's far too early to give up on Carroll and his massive deal. Perhaps with a new regime, Carroll will find new life.

New Manager, New Success?

While it's been tough to get a read on new manager Brendan Rodgers' thoughts on Andy Carroll, he's recently come out in support of the much maligned striker.

According to Goal.com, Rodgers has backed Carroll and said he sees him as an important contributor to the team:

"

He is a player who can play in a number of styles and it was a wee bit unfair on him [for people] to say he couldn't fit into the way I would want to play. For me, your game is based on your players, the players you have. I am here to win games. We've got a number of very, very talented players in the group, of which Andy is one.

"

Carroll's 2011-12 campaign could easily be categorized as a major disappointment, but it's worth seeing how he interacts with a new manager and new system.

To simply dump Carroll before playing a meaningful game for Rodgers would be a mistake. Should Carroll produce in the early stages of Rodgers' tenure, many of last season's disappointments could be forgiven.

Need a Larger Sample Size

As we know, since joining Liverpool in January 2011, Andy Carroll hasn't lived up to the hype.

However, while dumping Carroll must be a tempting move, it could be a decision that the club regret down the line.

Many believe that Carroll needs a change of scenery to truly flourish, but perhaps the implementation of a new scheme will be the only change Carroll needs.

Carroll's year and a half with the club has not been stellar by any stretch of the imagination, but if some patience is exercised, perhaps Carroll will bring his best to the table for an important 2012-13 campaign.

On a squad that's looking to earn a spot in the Champions League, Carroll could be an integral component to the future success of Liverpool.