Pony Tail is a burden too far.Get the clippers out for Andy Carroll.

In Biblical reference Samson was granted huge strength by God to do heroic deeds. However it was on condition that his hair remain unshaven that his force would remain intact.

Once he had given the secret of his strength to Delilah whom the Phillistines had bribed with 1100 silver coins to betray Samson, she shaved his hair and his super strength vanished.

It is painful to watch Andy Carroll play at the moment. He clearly has ability in abundance but he is labouring with the weight of his 35 million price tag and he needs to be revitalised.

If he believes his pony tail is giving him Samson like strength then he needs to think again for it is surely having the opposite effect.

He had the opportunity to quieten the naysayers at the Etihad stadium yesterday when with just five minutes gone he found himself one on one with Joe Hart and blasted the ball straight at the keeper.

In fairness to Carroll he was up against the countries best goalkeeper who is also in outstanding form and went on to make three or four marvellous saves to deny the red tide that swept forward at every opportunity.

But it sums up everything that is wrong with Andy Carroll at the moment and Dalglish would have been reflecting on how many similar chances he himself would have put away in his illustrious career by neatly dinking the ball over the keeper.

Andy Carroll needs to shave off that stupid ponytail and make himself less conspicuous. Shaved heads are the way to go. Just ask Skrtel, Johnson, Spearing, Agger et al.

All of whom have come back from injury and added to their game with a number one.

Liverpool are thankful that their Talisman and captain was on the pitch yesterday to step up under pressure and score a fantastic penalty placing the ball into the side netting. It needed to be a good penalty as well because Joe Hart went the right way and anything less would have been saved.

The Reds easily won the first half and the balance was only restored when Mancini made a tactical change two thirds of the way through the first half and bolstered his midfield to stop the red waves of attack and as a contest Dalglish shut down the second half with an admirable defensive display that gives them the edge going into the return fixture.

For All those that got a football bet on Man City to win 6/4 at Betfred yesterday commiserations.

That Bald Chap wins again.