Ryan Taylor says Andy Carroll will be a success at Liverpool, but he is determined to stop the striker when he faces Newcastle on Sunday.
But hopes his former team-mate remains quiet on Sunday
Ryan Taylor says Andy Carroll will be a success at Liverpool, but he is determined to stop the striker when he faces Newcastle on Sunday.
The 23-year-old has been heavily criticised for his performances since his £35million switch to Anfield in January 2011.
Since then he has netted just eight times in 47 appearances for the Reds, diminishing the reputation he was building as a powerful striker on Tyneside.
But Taylor is convinced Carroll will rediscover his form and become an asset for the Merseyside club.
"He's still a big talent. Things just haven't gone the way he probably would have liked them to have gone," Taylor said.
"Big-money signings are always put under the spotlight and if you don't produce, you are always going to get talk of him being too much money.
Big talent
"But he is such a big talent. We know what he can do, he knows what he can do - but hopefully we can stop that on Sunday.
"Hopefully, that run can continue for just one more week, but with being a friend and a Liverpool fan, I do hope he can come through this and show Liverpool fans exactly what [manager] Kenny [Dalglish] bought him for.
"He's a massive talent and he is definitely going to be one for the future once he settles down and gets his feet on the ground."
With Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor both out injured, Newcastle will hope that Carroll continues to misfire as Mike Williamson is the only fit centre-back they have at their disposal.
He is likely to be partnered by James Perch, who has played in midfield, full-back and centre-back this season as Newcastle struggled with injuries.
Confidence
Taylor added: "You expect James to do well again because he is full of confidence at the minute.
"He was here when Andy was, so I am sure he knows what he is all about and I am sure he can fill in for Colo and play just as big a part as Colo does.
"He's a great lad and he deserves his chance."
As a boyhood Liverpool fan Taylor admits that he looks for Newcastle's games with the Reds when the fixture list is published.
He said: "It's one of those fixtures you look at straight away. It's always quite exciting and it's got a bit more spice to it this time around, the way the season has gone.
"Not just me, there are a lot of people looking forward to it as well.
Push
"We are trying to push on now for that fifth or sixth spot, and who knows from there?
"If we can beat Liverpool, the gap is looking quite comfortable with seven games to go.
"It would be a great achievement to finish above them, considering what Liverpool have done in the last five or six years in the Premier League and in Europe.
"It would show what a season we have had and what a team spirit we have got because Liverpool is such a massive club."
