Mario Balotelli 'one of eight players facing Liverpool axe'

Mario Balotelli is reportedly among a list of eight players who are expected to face the exit door at Liverpool this summer.

The controversial striker has failed to impress at Anfield having scored just one Premier League goal since his £16m move from AC Milan last summer.

According to The Express, Glen Johnson, Kolo Toure, Jose Enrique, Rickie Lambert, Lucas Leiva and goalkeeper Brad Jones could all be offloaded by the Merseyside outfit alongside Balotelli.

The contracts of both Johnson and Toure will expire at the end of the season, while Enrique and Jones could be sold with one year remaining on their respective deals.

The futures of Lambert, who has struggled for game time since his arrival from Southampton last summer, and Lucas remain uncertain at Anfield.

Liverpool finished second in the Premier League last season, but Brendan Rodgers's side are in danger of finishing outside of the Champions League spots in this campaign as they are currently fifth in the table, four points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester United with three games left to play.