By Tom Finn
Liverpool’s owners the Fenway Sports Group needs to give manager Brendan Rodgers more time to sort out the team’s fortunes according to football pundit Robbie Savage who thinks the Northern Irishman should sell Mario Balotelli and bring in a defender.
After challenging for the title last season a post Luis Suarez Liverpool is now 11th in the table, and out of the Champions League.
But Savage said: “Rodgers is the man that deserves to take them forward.
“I’d try and get as much money as you can for Balotelli in the January transfer window.”
Since joining from AC Milan in the summer for £16 million the 24-year-old Italian has not managed to score a single goal in the Premiership.
“His goal scoring record for AC Milan and everywhere he’s been has been OK, so, for £16m, he was worth taking a chance on. But I don’t think he’s done anything,” former Wales midfielder Savage told BBC Radio 5 live.
“I’m a big fan of Rodgers. He can improve teams and players as he’s shown. He’s been a little bit unlucky as some of his signings haven’t worked out.”
After having dropped goalkeeper Simon Mignolet in favour of Brad Jones for the match against Manchester United Savage thinks that Rodgers also must make signing a new keeper also a priority.
“I played with Brad Jones – he came to Derby on loan, he’s a lovely lad. But I’m not convinced by him being in goal for Liverpool,” said Savage.
“If you go to Old Trafford and you’re putting Brad Jones in goal ahead of Mignolet, what does that say about the number one?”
Savage also puts down a lot of the Reds misfortune to the fact top striker Daniel Sturridge has been out injured saying: “I don’t think you can judge Brendan Rodgers this season until he’s got his main striker back.”
