Reject Carroll out to jolt Liverpool's title hopes

Former Liverpool striker Andy Carroll can dent his former club's Premier League title chances and virtually seal West Ham United's top-flight status for next season when the teams meet at Upton Park on Sunday.

Carroll did not fit into manager Brendan Rodgers's plans when the Irishman took over at Anfield, and 18 months after becoming the most expensive English player ever following his $58.2 million move from Newcastle United, he joined West Ham on loan before signing permanently last year.

Carroll, 25, faces Liverpool for the first time since leaving for $23 million, and if he turns in the type of scoring performance he produced in a 2-1 win at Sunderland on Monday, his old club's title hopes could be jolted.