The major positive for Liverpool on Saturday was the performance of the Geordie substitute, who almost managed to turn the game on its head.
Carroll scored one excellent goal, when he turned John Terry inside out before rifling past Petr Cech, came agonisingly close to grabbing an equaliser and then had a shot turned away by Branislav Ivanovic that would have brought the Merseysiders level.
And new England boss Roy Hodgson was watching ... which could revive Carroll's hopes of making Euro 2012.
Kenny Dalglish: "We have been happy with what big Andy has done since he came to Liverpool.
"If the ones who were critical of him are going to be fair and honest, they might have to re-write their pieces.
"If they don't want to do that, fine. It's not my problem.
"It doesn't change our opinion. He came on and lifted the team. He got the goal and was unlucky not to get another one."