MX23RW : Saturday, January 4 11:03:54| >> :120:3881:3881:

Brendan Rodgers: 'Mario Balotelli needs to improve in front of goal'

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes that Mario Balotelli needs to improve his goalscoring form.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted that Mario Balotelli has not been up to standard in terms of his goalscoring efforts.

The Italy international has scored just once since moving to Anfield from AC Milan for a reported £16m fee in the summer transfer window.

The 24-year-old, who spent three years at Manchester City, has been under scrutiny since returning to the Premier League and faced criticism for his performance in last night's 1-0 defeat to Basel in the Champions League.

When asked about Balotelli in this afternoon's press conference, Rodgers said: "In terms of his behaviour the boy is trying to work hard in then game that we demand.

"In terms of goals, he needs to improve. There is no question about that. He has not hit the numbers he will have wanted. We need to return to being a team.

"When confidence is low, it can become about the individual but we have to get back to being a team."

Balotelli is expected to play in this weekend's match against West Bromwich Albion.

ID:180286: cacheID:180286:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2015:
Written by
Danielle Joynson
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Dejected Steven Gerrard and Mario Balotelli of Liverpool after conceding the first goal during the UEFA Champions League Group B match between FC Basel 1893 and Liverpool FC at St. Jakob Stadium on October 1, 2014
Read Next:
Rodgers: 'Balotelli must do more'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool18143145172845
2Arsenal19116238172139
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
4Chelsea19105438231535
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1995532211132
6Manchester CityMan City199463226631
7Bournemouth198652923630
8Fulham197842825329
9Aston Villa198562831-329
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton196942928127
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1973941281324
12Brentford197393335-224
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham196582335-1223
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd196492126-522
15Crystal Palace194872027-720
16Everton183871524-917
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Ipswich TownIpswich1936101833-1515
19Leicester CityLeicester1935112242-2014
20Southampton1913151239-276


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!