Following the narrow win over Queens Park Rangers at the weekend, Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has come in for even more criticism with the hit-man spurning a number of chances at Loftus Road.
Although he didn’t sound entirely convincing, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers threw some much needed support behind the embattled 24-year old ahead of their meeting with Real Madrid at Anfield later today. “He scores big goals in big games” said the Northern Irishman of the misfiring Italian striker. “I’m sure he will go into tomorrow, if picked, looking forward. It is just a matter of time before he gets his goals.”
Balotelli has scored only once since trading AC Milan for Liverpool over the summer, but with Daniel Sturridge still sidelined, Rodgers continues to deploy him as a lone striker — a position that not only has he never thrived playing, but one that he himself says isn’t suited to his style.
Despite that, the former Manchester City man looks to be progressing with Rodgers praising him for finding space in the box and starting to adapt his game to fit the team. “The point I highlighted to him was that he was in the position to miss, he was arriving in the areas,” continued Rodgers when asked about Balotelli’s chances in the Capital on Sunday. “As long as he is in there with the possibility of scoring I am confident he will.”
