While he deserved censure for that challenge, one thing for which Carroll could not be faulted was his general approach. This display was somewhere close to the standards expected of him and showed why Dalglish has been keen to laud him in recent weeks.

Big things are expected from the £35million man in the coming weeks and months but Carroll, who opened his account for the summer in last Monday’s 3-3 draw with Valerenga in Oslo, at least showed he has the appetite for the challenge.

The first half petered out and the second period followed a similar tone, as a number of substitutions from both sides punctured the flow but Dalglish, who spent most of the 90 minutes stood with his arms folded on the edge of the technical area, will have been satisfied nonetheless.

His side looked the most likely to score and they almost extended their advantage when Carroll’s replacement David Ngog attempted a spectacular scissor kick that flashed past the post.   

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