Brendan Rodgers has defended Mario Balotelli’s
form and insisted the striker will come good for Liverpool.
The Italy international has struggled to make an impact at
Anfield after his £16million summer switch from AC Milan.
He has yet to score in the Premier League this
season and came in for widespread criticism for his display
against QPR on Sunday, when he missed two gilt-edged chances.
But Rodgers, speaking on the Alan Brazil
Sports Breakfast on Monday, is confident the goals will come.
“What I liked [against QPR], was he was in the positions to
miss the chances," said the Reds boss.
"We have spoke to him a lot about getting in the box.
He is a player that has always played with somebody around him and probably the
best game he had this season was away at Tottenham, when he had Daniel Sturridge up there with him as well. His
movement and speed creates spaces for him. He hasn’t really had that partner up
alongside him.
"But what was good yesterday was, even though he missed
a few chances, he was in there and as a striker you are happy to be in there
missing the chances. The problem comes if you don’t look like scoring at
all."
Balotelli was brought in to fill a void left by the departure of Luis Suarez, but Rodgers insists it
is unfair to compare the 24-year-old to the prolific Uruguayan.
"People have looked at him as a direct replacement for Luis Suarez and he is not that at all because you
can’t replicate that. Luis is a top class player," he said.
"Mario came here with issues and problems, but I have
not found him a problem at all. He is a really, really good boy.
"He is desperate to do well. He is on the training
field every day working. He is trying to work on his shooting and he gets
disappointed because he is not getting the goals. I'm sure the goals will come
for him eventually."
No comments:
Post a Comment