After the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona last summer Liverpool was short a striker, and as the transfer window was about to close manager Brendan Rodgers signed Italian striker Mario Balotelli from AC Milan for £16 million.
At the time many fans questioned his decision as the 24-year-old is a completely different type of player to Suarez and seemed ill suited to Liverpool’s fast passing game.
During this week’s press conference ahead of the trip to Turf Moor where Liverpool play Burnley on Boxing Day Rodgers admitted Balotelli does not suit the Reds pressing game.
“I think we’ve seen it’s not really his game,” Rodgers said. “Working with Mario, we see someone who is better around the box.
“That level of intensity and pressing isn’t part of his game but you try and get the best out of the players you have and the qualities that you have.
“So that’s something that we will focus on, but the most important thing is that he’s available after his ban. It adds another player to our squad and another player who is available, especially with Fabio Borini unavailable.”
