Both men were brought in to Anfield for big money, with a combined outlay of over £50million required to acquire their services.

They have not always offered full value for that outlay, and the recent removal of Damien Comolli from his director of football role on Merseyside was seen by some as an indication that owner John Henry is not taken with the club's transfer business.

Dalglish, though, has sought to defend his costly signings and hopes the contribution of Henderson and Carroll to Liverpool's run through to the FA Cup final will help to silence some of the critics.

"As long as they are giving everything they have got, I will always support the player," Dalglish told ESPN after watching Carroll net a late winner in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final victory over Everton.

"Yes, they will make mistakes but they are only young and they are trying to play in one of the top leagues in the world, in a new environment, which is getting more comfortable week after week.

"For them to adjust to that as quickly as they have has been quite rewarding and very encouraging."

Battered

Carroll and Henderson are not the only ones to have fallen under the microscope this season and, having seen his own position questioned at times, Dalglish admits a siege mentality has formed at Anfield.

"Everyone has been battered," said the Scot.

"Maybe that is what we need to get ourselves going forward.

"Everybody is entitled to their opinion but if you want to be a top player, you have to go through most of the emotions you get in football.

"Part of that is how you come back from criticism.

"These players have shown they are capable of coming back but it is not finished. We have to try and do as much as we can over the remaining games of the season, one being the FA Cup final."