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Europa League | Round-Of-32
Feb 19, 2015 at 8.05pm UK
 
Besiktas

1-0

Balotelli (85' pen.)
FT(HT: 0-0)

Brendan Rodgers downplays Mario Balotelli incident

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers attempts to downplay an incident that saw Mario Balotelli take a penalty against Besiktas without his permission.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes that the penalty incident against Besiktas involving Mario Balotelli has attracted "more drama" than was necessary.

After the club won a late spot kick, Balotelli took the penalty ahead of designated taker Jordan Henderson, a move which was criticised by captain Steven Gerrard.

Club legend Jamie Carragher weighed in on the debate by insisting that Balotelli was right to pull rank over the midfielder, but Rodgers is adamant that the incident has been blown out of proportion.

The 42-year-old told reporters: "There's been more drama made out of it than it was.

"When Steven Gerrard plays he's number one penalty taker. Jordan was nominated penalty taker. Jordan showed last night what a team player he was by letting Mario take it.

"Young Jordan showed his maturity. I didn't like the etiquette, but we got the result."

Balotelli's goal earned Liverpool a 1-0 advantage ahead of the second leg in Turkey next Thursday.

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Retired Liverpool football club player Jamie Carragher arrives for a memorial service to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster at Anfield Stadium on April 15, 2014
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Tuesday, July 2
 
8pm
Friday, July 5
 
5pm
Quarter-Finals
Spain
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Germany
 
8pm
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Portugal
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Saturday, July 6
 
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

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Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

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Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

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Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

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Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

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Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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