Former Liverpool midfielder Steve McManaman is confident that Steven Gerrard will be able to get the best out of struggling striker Andy Carroll.

The ex-Newcastle United frontman has failed to make a statement on Merseyside since his arrival last January, with just four goals in 23 appearances.

"It's far too early to talk about make or break for Andy," The Mirror quotes McManaman as saying. "Liverpool spent a lot of money on him, and there's a lot of pressure on him, but give him time.

"If Carroll and Gerrard both play against Oldham, as I would hope, I think Andy will do well, because Stevie is the king of assists. Liverpool have missed his passes, which unlock tight games. They have missed his set-piece delivery and nobody has missed him more than Carroll.

"Gerrard will help him a lot. In the same way that he helped Fernando Torres a lot. His ability to deliver telling passes and crosses at the feet of Liverpool's strikers has been arguably their greatest strength for a decade now."

The 22-year-old has been criticised for failing to live up to the £35m price tag paid by the Reds to the Magpies last year.

"Carroll's price tag has exacerbated all criticism of his record since he joined Liverpool, but I'm a realist," McManaman added. "He's still only young, and he will only improve technically, and we all need to be a bit more patient with him."

Carroll is likely to feature in Liverpool's FA Cup third-round tie against Oldham tonight.