• Premier League

Balotelli told to work non-stop

Brendan Rodgers has told Mario Balotelli he needs to work non-stop if he wants to join the ranks of Liverpool's all-time great strikers.

Balotelli scored his first goal for the club in their 2-1 win over Ludogorets Razgrad on Tuesday night as Liverpool returned to the Champions League, with Rodgers describing the strike as a "world-class finish".

Mario Balotelli scored his first goal for Liverpool in their 2-1 win against Ludogorets Razgrad © Getty Images

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The 24-year-old arrived at Liverpool this summer as a replacement for Luis Suarez, who joined Barcelona for £75 million, and Rodgers feels Balotelli needs to put in similar industry as the Uruguayan if he is to reignite his career.

"You saw his workrate against Ludogorets and, OK, the ball has bounced off him a couple of times and we're trying to improve him in the transitions so that when he makes a mistake he can go after it, but I think you can see what he's trying to put in for the team. That's going to be very important," Rodgers said.

"The crowd demand that, because the players who've been here in the past in that position have been non-stop, and he's coming attuned to that. He's aware of the demands and it's going to take time, but if he continues to score goals and work hard like he has done in this game, he will be fine, because he's obviously got the quality.

"He is a boy who's really looked into the history of the club. He understands the great strikers of the past. We've spoken about Suarez and his time here, but if you're clever, you'll remember he's still young and still learning the game, and he still has this hunger to do well.

"You see his work against Ludogorets, he's put his body on the line and he needs to do more of that, but I think that will come as he gets fitter."

Jordan Henderson, who Rodgers has named as Liverpool's new vice-captain, also expects Balotelli to keep improving once he has had more time to gel with the team.

"I thought his finish was outstanding," Henderson said. "He led the line and held it up well. He had a couple of chances here and there, and hopefully that goal will kick him on and he will get plenty more goals."

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