According to reports today, Andy Carroll is all set to make his Liverpool debut against Manchester United on Sunday. The £35 million record signing has been injured since joining the club and, after slumping to an unconvincing Premier League defeat to West Ham, manager Kenny Dalglish will been keen for Fernando Torres’s long-term replacement to make his long awaited debut.

After being sidelined since the end of December it would be surprising if Carroll started the game. However, given the fact that Manchester United are missing Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, Carroll’s presence could be the perfect weapon to capitalise on an untested central defensive partnership of Chris Smalling and Wes Brown on Sunday.

As for the longer-term Liverpool line-up, Carroll’s introduction to the fold means a likely shift to accommodate the big striker. Dirk Kuyt has recently been used as a target man, seemingly filling the void until Carroll’s debut, and although the Dutchman played this role earlier in his career, it is not his most accomplished position. Kuyt will surely make way and switch back to midfield, with Carroll becoming the primary forward. Luis Suarez, who has shown glimpses of his skill and technique since arriving from Ajax, seems likely play just off Carroll as a second striker, coming deep to influence matters as Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez have demonstrated for United and City this season.

Dalglish has experimented with formations since taking the reins in January. The Anfield legend has trialled 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1 and 5-3-2 systems, amongst others. It is unclear which approach the manager will opt for with Carroll’s arrival, but it should be expected that Steven Gerrard and Raul Meireles will play deeper midfield roles; that would obviously hamper the potential of the Portuguese playmaker.

It will be interesting to see who Dalglish drops to the bench. With Gerrard practically untouchable, one of Kuyt or Lucas Leiva could face the chop. The Liverpool boss could even bench the in-form Meireles. His 5 goals in his last 7 games should guarantee a starting berth in the short-term, although having suffered an injury at Upton Park, he will go into Sunday’s game as a doubt.

Liverpool’s upcoming fixtures hardly offer Carroll an easy opening to his Anfield career (MUN, sun, wba, MCY, ars, BIR). As well as the ever-feisty affair with Manchester United, Dalglish’s men must also face tricky encounters with Manchester City and Arsenal. But, regardless, Carroll’s Fantasy Premier League owners (and there’s still 21.8% of you out there) will be thrilled that he is close to a return. Despite retaining decent ownership, Carroll’s price in the FPL has dropped from a peak of 6.4 to 5.8.

We must of course wait for more “official” news on Carroll’s return to action. Dalglish is set to call a press conference tomorrow morning (Thursday 9.30 am) where more may well be revealed. Should he confirm Carroll’s return, the big number nine will surely come back onto our radars as a possible replacement for the stricken Robin Van Persie.