• Premier League

'Good boy' Balotelli will get his chance, says Rodgers

ESPN staff
January 26, 2015
Rodgers: Balotelli still has Liverpool future

Mario Balotelli will be given the opportunity to save his Liverpool career, manager Brendan Rodgers has said.

Balotelli's long-term Anfield future has been the subject of speculation after a poor first five months at the club, in which he has failed to score a single Premier League goal since arriving from AC Milan for £16 million.

Rodgers said: "We'll give Mario every chance. We brought him in here for this season to give him every chance to show he can play consistently at this level.

"It has been a difficult period for him, there's no doubt. But he's a good boy. He wants to fight for his chance here. I've seen some clippings this morning saying that's him over with here. That's not the case at all.

"I've shown a number of times here that players out of the fold who work hard in training have every chance to get back in the team - and stay there. So the opportunity's there for Mario and for every player, not just him."

The striker was left out of the squad for Saturday's 0-0 FA Cup fourth-round draw at home to Championship side Bolton, despite being fit.

Rodgers indicated after that game that Balotelli had not performed well enough in training to play for the first team. The manager said on January 15 that the 24-year-old, who has a contract until 2017, would not be sold in the January transfer window.

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