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Paul Scholes: 'Mario Balotelli not to blame for faltering Liverpool'

Paul Scholes insists that Mario Balotelli's lack of goals in the Premier League is not to blame for Liverpool's slow start to the campaign.

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has claimed that Mario Balotelli is an "easy target" for criticism following Liverpool's slow start to the season.

The Italian striker has failed to get off the mark for the Reds in the Premier League, which has led to many questioning the performances of the £16m summer purchase from AC Milan.

However, Scholes believes that it is wrong to single Balotelli out, saying that he is not alone in struggling to get up to full flow so far this campaign.

"Another week of Mario Balotelli stories and I cannot help thinking he is an easy target," the 39-year-old told the London Evening Standard. "There are some players at Liverpool getting away with murder while Balotelli cops a lot of the stick. His name, his reputation - even his body language on the pitch - they all add up to the kind of player who attracts criticism.

"It does not detract from the reality that Liverpool lost Luis Suarez, their best player and key goalscorer last season, and their next best striker - Daniel Sturridge - has been injured for so long. It is a basic truth in football that good forwards make the whole team look better.

"Balotelli has at least taken the spotlight off some of the other summer signings. Dejan Lovren has struggled. Lazar Markovic has not scored a goal yet and he cost £20m. Alberto Moreno is quick but is yet to convince as a defender. Adam Lallana is the only one who looks like he is comfortable with the shift, and at £25m I think he was overpriced."

Liverpool, who travel to face Newcastle United this weekend, are currently seventh in the Premier League table.

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Newcastle manager Alan Pardew prior to kick-off in the match against Chelsea on November 2, 2013
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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