15 Aug 2011 – 09:18:47

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A season, different faces, same old frustrations. Having been expected to launch a bright new era in blistering style, this was not the start Anfield envisaged witnessing to the 2011-12 campaign.
As Liverpool’s players headed for home following their 1-1 draw with Sunderland, almost all of Kenny Dalglish’s squad sported the same gait heads bowed, brows furrowed and shoulders slumped as they grappled with the irritation of an anti-climactic opening day.
No way through: Carroll (right) was foiled by Brown
‘We are all disappointed,’ said Andy Carroll, who agreed the result in some way felt like a defeat.
‘We created some good chances in the first half but sat off them in the second. We didn’t get into the game much and that was disappointing.’
With much anticipated from Liverpool following a ?105.3million overhaul since January, it was appropriate that Carroll, their ?35million striker, was the man who explained why the script had not gone to plan.
Carroll, more than any of the other signings Dalglish has made, will be subjected to most scrutiny.
In such circumstances, the weight of expectation could easily become overbearing but this is the area where the England international says the Kop legend’s input will be crucial.
King Luis: Andy Carroll (centre) congratulates his strike partner

‘Kenny is a great manager and it is great to know he is giving me all his backing,’ said Carroll, who got little change from his tussle with the outstanding Wes Brown.
‘I have just got to give it all back to him, really. I need to listen to him. It is nice to know he has got faith in me and it is a big help.
‘I’m just looking forward to the rest of the season and keeping myself fit.
‘Now it is a case of pushing forward. I have got to show what I can do.
‘Now I have got to do what I did to get myself here andI am out to prove I can do it here. It is a big stage and I love playing for this club.’
Had Carroll not seen a goal disallowed for a foul on Anton Ferdinand shortly after Luis Suarez had put Liverpool ahead, Dalglish would, in all likelihood, have seen a side that included four debutants saunter tovictory.
Super Seb: Sebastian Larsson volleys home Liverpool’s equaliser
Liverpool, though, lost their way. Spurning the chance to take a fifth-minute lead when Suarez, who had been brought down by Kieran Richardson, blazed a penalty over the bar, the disjointed nature of their second half display left some thinking Dalglish selected the wrongteam.
If eyebrows were raised when rookie right-back John Flanagan was selected ahead of the more experienced Martin Kelly, overlooking the vastly-experienced Dirk Kuyt to accommodate Henderson was the biggest surprise.
By contrast, Sunderland manager Steve Bruce, who has so far made eight signings this summer, opted to only to give two debuts and one of them Sebastian Larsson -spectacularly secured a point with an acrobatic volley after peeling away from Flanagan.
Busy summer: Both Kenny Dalglish (left) and Steve Bruce (right) fielded several debutants
‘The decision I made (not to pick many new players) suited us and it gotus a result,’ said Bruce.
‘But on another day who knows? The big thing when you make big changes is it’s very difficult to put them all in straight away and I’m sure Kenny will be thinking that too.
‘It is going to take time isn’t it but if there’s one thing that they’veall got in common it’s that they’re all good players.
‘They need to makethem gel, settle in the area and understand what Liverpool is all about.’
Patience, clearly, will be required as the transition takes place but, equally, Dalglish is aware there is desire to see everything slot in to place quickly.
‘We are relaxed about the situation but we want to be competitive as well,’ he said. ‘What I do know is the squad is better than last year. Whatever time they need, they will have it.’
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