Sir Alex Ferguson takes a dig at Liverpool for spending £35m on Andy Carroll

Andy Carroll for West Ham
© PA Photos
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has criticised Liverpool for splashing out on a £35m bid for Andy Carroll last year.

The 23-year-old failed to get off the mark at Anfield last season under Kenny Dalglish and following the arrival of new manager Brendan Rodgers in the summer, the former Newcastle United forward was loaned out to West Ham United for the season.

"He has only played something like a dozen games for Newcastle and then he had to deal with a £35m transfer to a club like Liverpool," Ferguson told the club's official website.

"That's quite a big jump. I'd certainly not sign that kind of player for that kind of money. We've gambled on young players in the past, maybe a couple of million or whatever, but when you get that level you really have to do a bit more homework and see how he is in his second season maybe."

Ferguson's side come up against the Hammers tonight.
Tables
TeamPGDPTS
1Manchester United384389
2Manchester City383278
3Chelsea383675
4Arsenal383573
5Tottenham Hotspur382072
6Everton381563
7Liverpool382861
8West Bromwich Albion38-449
9Swansea City38-446
10West Ham United38-846
11Norwich City38-1744
12Fulham38-1043
13Stoke City38-1142
14Southampton38-1141
15Aston Villa38-2241
16Newcastle United38-2341
17Sunderland38-1339
RWigan Athletic38-2636
RReading38-3028
RQueens Park Rangers38-3025