Shelvey ready to fill Carroll void

Liverpool playmaker Jonjo Shelvey believes he has the goods to step up in the absence of West Ham loanee Andy Carroll.

The former Newcastle striker joined the Premier League rivals on loan at the end of August, with manager Brendan Rodgers failing to bring in a suitable replacement before the transfer window shut – despite strong links to then-Fulham forward Clint Dempsey

However, Shelvey is confident he can step up to the mark and cement his place in the Liverpool first-team by filling the void created by Carroll’s departure.

“As a team, when the transfer window passed we were all disappointed that we didn’t get to bring anyone in but that’s when we’ve all got to step up to the plate,” Shelvey told talkSPORT.

“We’re going to have to break down teams because we haven’t got a plan B. We can’t lump it up the pitch because we haven’t got the kind of player to do that, so we need to keep being patient and keep working on openings.”

Shelvey, who joined Liverpool from Charlton in 2010, has managed just one goal in 31 first-team appearances for the Reds, but revealed that Rodgers has instructed him to test his eye for goal more often in the future.

“(Rodgers) said he sees me as a goal threat and I had a few chances today but I couldn’t score but hopefully it will come,” he said.