With Liverpool struggling for strikers as well as goals, West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce revealed that the Reds inserted a clause allowing them to call Andy Carroll back to Anfield in January.
Carroll sealed a season-long loan switch to West Ham late this summer, with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believing a replacement would be brought in. However, things did not go according to plan for the new Liverpool manager, leaving the famed club woefully short on options up front.
The England international striker made a big impact for the Hammers on his debut, helping his new side to a comfortable 3-0 win over Fulham before the international break. The striker, however, suffered an injury late in the game, ruling him out of action for at least a month.
Allardyce highlighted the importance of keeping the 23-year-old at Upton Park, but admitted Liverpool could take him back if they needed him in January. "There's an opportunity for Liverpool (to take him back in January) if they want to, but whether they do or they don't will be a matter of time," Allardyce told Sky Sports program 'Goals on Sunday'.
"If Andy's playing for us on a regular basis by then and that's the case, he'll have played a major part in keeping us in the league this year."
Allardyce also touched upon his interest in bringing in former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov, who eventually signed for Fulham on transfer deadline day. Allardyce cited the transfer fee and the eventual salary as a stumbling block in being able to complete a move for the talented forward.
"We couldn't afford him (Berbatov)," the West Ham manager added. "The problem was the transfer fee and the size of the salary was out of our domain this season in terms of our budget.
"Fulham created their own transfer funds. They knew Clint Dempsey was moving on, and one or two others, and that gave them the opportunity to go big.
"They were interested in Andy Carroll as well, I believe, and we were glad to get Andy on a loan basis but they obviously clinched Dimitar Berbatov."