The former Reds striker holds no grudges and wants to help out the Reds – who he argues “deserve” the Premier League title – with a goal at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday

Former Liverpool striker Andy Carroll hopes to do his old team a favour by scoring for West Ham against Manchester City to open up the Premier League title race on the final day.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side would guarantee the trophy if they beat the Hammers at the Etihad Stadium, leaving the Reds needing to beat Newcastle and hope that their rivals slip up.

Carroll, who was sold by Brendan Rodgers to the Hammers last summer after not fitting into the manager’s plans at Anfield, believes that his former club “deserve” to be champions and is out to crown them with a goalscoring performance on Sunday.

“I am hoping that Liverpool win the league and I will do my best to score at the Etihad,” the centre forward told reporters. “I have still got a lot of friends at the club and the lads were brilliant when I was up there.

“To be honest, I think that Steven Gerrard deserves to win the league. He has been there so long and, the football they have played, they definitely deserve it.

“They are great fans and, even when they were not winning the league or challenging up there, they were still fantastic. They stuck by the team and that is where they are now.”

Carroll himself has been reduced to only 11 starts this season due to lengthy struggles with injury and is determined to make a bigger impact at Upton Park by building back up to peak fitness.

He declared: “I still feel there is a bit more to come from me.

“It takes time to get back your full fitness and, although I feel fit, I know deep down I am not 100 per cent.”