Mario Balotelli (Liverpool -> Nice)

It was of course correct for Balotelli to take the penalty instead of Henderson, has Henderson ever actually taken a penalty for us or anybody else?

It was also disgraceful of Stevie to call Balotelli disrespectful, he was probably just jealous at how good a penalty it was, perfect in my opinion, and how much better the team is without him in it.

Overall I think the introduction of Raheem and Mario was very clever from Brendan and tilted the game in our favour.

I was worried of that kind of behavior to be honest. I never really thought about his ability because he is great striker. But as I said this morning, I have to agree with Balo on this one. He is a proven penalty taker. I disagree with Sturridge refusing to celebrate.

I just want to see him and Sturridge together now this sat and not keep seeing him come on for the end of the game, but he's got us winners from the bench so maybe BR dont want to change that.
has to start sat he sparked life into the game when he came on so give him a chance as a strike duo

It was also disgraceful of Stevie to call Balotelli disrespectful, he was probably just jealous at how good a penalty it was, perfect in my opinion, and how much better the team is without him in it.

That comment is disgraceful....

Forget about the penalty for a second, that was Mario's best performance in a red shirt by a country mile. From the moment he came on he looked at it, and even his press and defending set-pieces was pretty good. He released it quickly and perceptively, and won three or four dangerous free kicks around their box. If he played like that every game, he'd be worth every penny of the fee.

He has put in 3 good appearances in a row. He has been working hard off the ball, pressing to win it back, and making smarter decisions when in possession. If he carries on like this then he will be a big player for us.

Balotelli was right to take the penalty as he is the most experienced player we have behind Stevie. Hendo obviously wants to have the responsibility as he is the new captain, but he needs to realize that he is behind Mario in the penalty order. Brendan needs to have a chat with all 3 (Balotelli, Studge, and Hendo) to make sure this gets resolved quickly and doesn't affect our team chemistry in the upcoming game against the Saints.

Good shift, good week. Let's hope there's more to come and Jamie Redknapp can f...k off.

Good shift, good week. Let's hope there's more to come and Jamie Redknapp can f...k off.

Just seen his comments.... What a F***ing tw*t!!

Forget about the penalty for a second, that was Mario's best performance in a red shirt by a country mile. From the moment he came on he looked at it, and even his press and defending set-pieces was pretty good. He released it quickly and perceptively, and won three or four dangerous free kicks around their box. If he played like that every game, he'd be worth every penny of the fee.

My thoughts also mate, he was excellent when he came on last night, offered us a real physical presence, showed a Good awareness of his teammates and held the ball up superbly. It's funny because I don't think he works as a lone frontman, I wouldn't fancy him in a 4-4-2 either but if we're three at the back and a midfield five it works. It hides his deficiencies (ie. a lack of work rate/movement to maximise his opportunities to get on the ball and his lacks of genuine interest to press the ball) and promotes his strengths of being an exceptionally skilful player for such a big/strong bugger and with Studge playing on the shoulder it gives him the freedom to drop off or pull out to the wings as he likes to do.

It's been a promising return to the side, I'm not getting carried away and neither would I start him at St Mary's on Sunday but maybe, just maybe Mario can be a success after all.

It was of course correct for Balotelli to take the penalty instead of Henderson, has Henderson ever actually taken a penalty for us or anybody else?

It was also disgraceful of Stevie to call Balotelli disrespectful, he was probably just jealous at how good a penalty it was, perfect in my opinion, and how much better the team is without him in it.

Overall I think the introduction of Raheem and Mario was very clever from Brendan and tilted the game in our favour.

Bit F***ing strong about Gerrard there mate.

Doesn't look like he will be here next season.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/brendan-rodgers-warns-mario-balotelli-8690117

Best week of his Liverpool career and he's being criticised. Baffled to say the least. Does Brendan say the same to Lambert, in regards to pressing? Because he should.

What he should be saying is grow the beard out.

Best week of his Liverpool career and he's being criticised. Baffled to say the least. Does Brendan say the same to Lambert, in regards to pressing? Because he should.

I agree does seem a bit odd and even Gerrard you could say hardly gets on his bike pressing.

Maybe it's a bit of reverse psychology.

Maybe it's a bit of reverse psychology.

I think he is pushing Mario to be a better person/better player and to get the most out of his natural abilities.

Some people blessed at birth with a gift can easily become lazy and content...others simply do not need motivation.

It will either work amazing and this whole endeavor will become a huge success or Mario will simply leave.

Low risk/High reward.

What a F***ing fraud Brendan Rodgers is.  Balotelli worked his arse off last night, just look at the play leading up to the penalty, he won the ball in the air, passed it to Ibe and then ran his arse off into the box hoping to latch on to a cross from Ibe.  Then he wanted to win the game for us, he doesn't hide like Allen/Henderson etc, no, he wants the pressure on him, he wants to do whatever it takes to win.  He finally works hard and what does he get?  His manager slags him off in the press.

So much for the Liverpool family eh.

So easy for Rodgers the Fraud to have a go at Balotelli.  When was the last time he ever called  out Lovren or Lallana?  the latter especially who contributes little more than a series of Cruyff turns that slow down our attacks.

Chin up Balotelli lad, we're behind you even if your own manager throws you under the bus to the press.

Maybe Brendan has figured out that Mario has to be challenged and that's the way to get the best out of him.

Think it's funny that most on here ran Mario up and down and would have joined in to stone him and he has a nice little run and we are ready to stone Brendan because of his man management. You guys are funny.

Wouldn't asking him to work even harder than what he's doing now be detrimental to our team (ie. not playing best to his ability)? I really don't mind if his work rate is poor if he's up top with Sturridge, as long as he stays in position and be ready to hold the ball up , staying predominantly in the middle and allowing players to play off him.

Maybe Brendan has figured out that Mario has to be challenged and that's the way to get the best out of him.

Think it's funny that most on here ran Mario up and down and would have joined in to stone him and he has a nice little run and we are ready to stone Brendan because of his man management. You guys are funny.

Spot on this.

Most people seem to ignore Brendan said only after the penalty did he stop working. Pretty sure most would agree you give 100% every second you're on the pitch

What a f**king fraud Brendan Rodgers is.  Balotelli worked his arse off last night, just look at the play leading up to the penalty, he won the ball in the air, passed it to Ibe and then ran his arse off into the box hoping to latch on to a cross from Ibe.  Then he wanted to win the game for us, he doesn't hide like Allen/Henderson etc, no, he wants the pressure on him, he wants to do whatever it takes to win.  He finally works hard and what does he get?  His manager slags him off in the press.

So much for the Liverpool family eh.

So easy for Rodgers the Fraud to have a go at Balotelli.  When was the last time he ever called  out Lovren or Lallana?  the latter especially who contributes little more than a series of Cruyff turns that slow down our attacks.

Chin up Balotelli lad, we're behind you even if your own manager throws you under the bus to the press.

I think you're completely wrong mate.

Allen Henderson and Lallana don't have Balotelli's talent but they work far harder than he does and put themselves before the team.

He needs to be putting in the kind of effort that Messi, Ronaldo, Suarez and Tevez put into their game. Brendan is exactly the kind of manager Balotelli needs if he wants to be a genuinely top level player.  Balotelli isn't sulking - on the contrary he seems desperate to stay. Probably because he, and the people around him recognise how he needs to be coached to unlock his talent.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr5VKL1w9aE

We just needed Zanetti

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr5VKL1w9aE

We just needed Zanetti

We needed Gerrard.

We needed him on the pitch and if hes out we need him to NOT BE ON TV TALKING ABOUT THE TEAM

Surprised at Brendan's recent comments. Think he's off in the summer, just hope he can put himself in the shop window by scoring a few more goals for us.

Disrespectful F**k.Scores an impossible to miss goal (yes,thank you for getting into a good position/doing your job) after almost 7 months of nothing and lets it go to his head enough to challenge 2 teammates, including the captain of the squad for a penalty?The fact that this has prompted a gentleman like Gerrard to speak out against a fellow current teammate should be very telling.What a shameful spectacle this,but what else could we expect after bringing this person into our club?

A truly rotten apple,they had to be the bigger people and let the little boy have his penalty or else he would throw a fit.Inmature,childish,arrogant, disrespectful to his own team.Just like Cristiano Ronaldo,except he can afford to be like that,this embarrasment of a player cannot (not saying it´s right but you understand).And the fact that some of us are labelling a goal and a penalty as a "run" for him just highlights how pathetic his production is.All this penalty scuffle following a goal?A single goal?What´s going to happen if he scores a double?God forbid he scores a hat-trick (odds would be 17-1 on that one).

I really do hope,for the image,good name,and honor of this respectful club,and our very own as people who represent this club,that this embarrasing chapter be closed come summer.I don´t care if we sell him for 5M,that´s probably the best offer we´ll get,just please get rid of this ignominious character,it´s only going to get worse.The fact that this was a carbon-copy of the Inter incident just highlights how much of a facepalm this situation is,how naive we were to think he was going to change.Very sad stuff.

Pleased for Mario. He can be unbelievably frustrating, but he has more ability than Rickie and Fabio combined.

He can only wish he had the consistency and ability Lambert has shown in all 4 tiers of english football until he came to Liverpool and saw that dry up as a result of having Balotelli (#I´m too cool to celebrate even after 7 months of nothing) picked over him for nothing in return.He has potential ability mate,not real ability.Show some respect for Lambert and even Borini who scored quite a lot in Italy.