Mario Balotelli once again disappointed in a Liverpool shirt after being brought on for Lazar Markovic against Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup quarter-final.
Mario Balotelli disappointing in a Liverpool shirt is becoming an all-too-regular occurrence, and if he doesn’t begin to show progress then it may not only mean the end of his Anfield career, but his career at top European clubs altogether.
Against Blackburn, the substitution to bring the Italian on gave Liverpool fans a sense of hope, if only for a moment, that he may produce one of his rare magic moments and send the Reds through to an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. However, as it transpired, he showed the same lack of effort that saw him demoted to the bench in the first place.
After 24 appearances for the Reds in all competitions, Balotelli has just four goals and six yellow cards for his troubles and his apparent lack of effort isn’t winning him any fans either.
Unless he changes his ways, or at least acknowledges he needs to change his ways, it seems unlikely he will get through the summer transfer window without being shipped off to his fifth club in the last five years. Here, we take a look at two aspects that Balotelli could change within his game that would at least help his chances of future success with Liverpool.
Stop with the headline-seeking shots!
One thing we have learned about the Italian over the past few years is that he likes attention – a lot of attention. Unfortunately, it shows in his game too.
No Liverpool player has recorded more shots per 90 minutes than Balotelli in the Premier League this season, with the majority being fired from outside the box. Needless to say, with just one Premier League goal to his name, his approach of shooting on sight is not exactly helping his career.
Look to link-up with teammates, at least once in a while.
Another shocking fact is just how rarely Balotelli will look to pass to his teammates.
In the Premier League this season, no outfield player in the Liverpool side per 90 minutes has attempted or accurately hit fewer passes to a teammate than the Italian international. In fact, only goalkeeper Brad Jones has attempted fewer passes per 90 minutes than him.
It should all be about application and energy for the former Manchester City striker now, but with Jose Mourinho and Roberto Mancini having previously failed in helping him grow in that area, Rodgers has one hell of a job.
As for Balotelli, it’s impossible to dine out on former glories forever and if he fails to make an impact at Liverpool then it becomes very difficult to see where his next big move will come from.
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