Andy Gray believes that Andy Carroll has the potential to come good at Liverpool despite an unsettling start to his Reds career.

The ex-Newcastle United striker has failed to cement a spot in Kenny Dalglish's starting lineup following his £35m move from the North East to Merseyside in January.

"I don't think it is the end for players like Andy Carroll," The Express quotes Gray as saying. "Everyone is talking about the Spanish way, the Barcelona way, the Spanish national team way. I would hate it to be like this and nothing else. What makes this league is the variation.

"[Newcastle] were never afraid just to put [the ball] in there and let Andy search it out. At Liverpool, they are a little more technical, methodical; they move it about a bit more.

"He has wonderful attributes and I do not understand why it is not quite happening. Maybe he was a big fish in a little pond; in many ways at Newcastle, he was the big star. At Liverpool, it is a massive club with massive players and maybe he is finding it all a little bit more difficult."

The former Everton player believes that off-field problems could also be behind the 22-year-old's poor form.

"He is at a great club, he has a manager who supports him to the hilt and is trying to bring the best out of him," he added. "We have heard lots of stories about the way he runs his life off the pitch and, if that is true, then it is something he needs to address."

Liverpool travel to Villa Park to face Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.