Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish expects Andy Carroll to cop abuse upon his return to Newcastle United.

Carroll, 23, struck 33 goals in 91 appearances for Newcastle before the too-good-to-refuse offer to head to Merseyside.

And Dalglish insisted: "I don't think he ever did anything other than give of his best for Newcastle, and then they got £35m into the bargain as well. That's not bad, is it?

"I'm not sure he will get abuse, because what happened was outside his control, but it's up to them what they want to do.

"They pay their entrance money and if they want to give him stick, they will give him stick.

"But Andy will be excited about going back. It's the club he supported as a boy, the club that introduced him and gave him his chance in professional football, so as a local boy he will be looking forward to it."