IF it does prove to be Andy Carroll’s Anfield farewell, at least he will have
left the Kop with something to smile about.

The 23-year-old Geordie is still being courted by former club Newcastle and
West Ham.

And he showed a glimpse of how deadly he can be with a 20-yard rocket in front
of the most famous bank of supporters in the game.

Charlie Adam was the provider — with a neat turn to find space — and Carroll
let the ball run through his legs before drilling home.

Admittedly he got some help thanks to Leverkusen keeper Bernd Leno’s tame
effort.

But after just four competitive goals in his 20 months on Merseyside, England
striker Carroll (left) was not about to complain.

Whether he is still around when Liverpool start their league campaign, against
Manchester City on Sunday week, is highly debatable.

But yesterday’s strike in this pre-season friendly certainly left a huge smile
on Kop boss Brendan Rodgers’ face.

Rodgers said: “It was nice to see him score and it was a terrific goal as
well. The big guy has had stick that he can’t play this way but he let it go
through his legs and he tucked it away very well.”

Carroll’s goal followed an early thunderbolt from the increasingly impressive
17-year-old Raheem Sterling.

The third came from Lucas, who tapped into an empty net when Michael Kadlec
nicked the ball off Luis Suarez’s toe only to set up the Brazil midfielder.

Sidney Sam got one back for Liverpool legend Sami Hyypia’s German side while
Joe Allen, the Reds’ £15million buy from Swansea, was introduced before
kick-off.

Rodgers added: “There is still a lot of work ahead but I’m seeing improvement
every single day in terms of our short passing game. To play with that
control against a very good side was excellent.”

One in, one out at Liverpool