Brendan Rodgers: Mario Balotelli can still be a success at Liverpool Brendan Rodgers has told Mario Balotelli he can still become a first-team regular at Liverpool. The £16m striker is yet to score in the Premier League for Liverpool and did not even make the bench for Saturdays FA Cup tie against Bolton, prompting speculation his chances of making it at Anfield have already passed. But Rodgers says he would never write off any player for good and has challenged Balotelli to force his way back in. Well give Mario every chance, he said. We brought him here this season to give him every chance to show he can play consistently at the top in a team at this level. It has been a difficult perod for him, but hes a good boy who wants to fight for his opportunity here. Ive seen some clippings this morning saying thats him over with, and its not the case at all. think Ive shown here a number of times - players that have been out of the fold for various reasons, if they work hard every day in training and show the intensity and focus then theyve every chance of getting back in the team - and not only of getting back in the team, but staying there. So the opportunitys there for Mario and for every player. Balotellis path to the starting line-up will be further blocked by the imminent return of Daniel Sturridge, who trained on Sunday after five months out with a thigh injury. The England striker could make his comeback at Chelsea on Tuesday, when Liverpool take a 1-1 first-leg draw to London for the second leg of their League Cup semi-final. Rodgers said: He trained very, very well, and that was as comfortable as hes looked. Even when he was coming back before (from a previous injury) he was bit tentative, but I thought he looked back to normal. Well see how he feels - if hes not ready we wont risk it. Hes been out a long time and we just need to make sure hes ready and feels ready.
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 15:13:16 +0000