Under-fire Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli to get chance to prove himself against Hull - 7M sport

Under-fire Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli to get chance to prove himself against Hull



Posted Saturday, October 25, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk

MARIO BALOTELLI is set to be given a chance to fire himself back into favour against Hull tomorrow.

Under-fire Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli to get chance to prove himself against Hull
REPRIEVE: Mario Balotelli is set to be given another chance to prove his worth to Liverpool against Hull

The Liverpool striker’s place was under threat after another horror show against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

Balotelli, 24, was hauled off at half-time by boss Brendan Rodgers – just after he had swapped shirts with Real defender Pepe.

But the Kop chief is expected to give his £16m summer signing from AC Milan another opportunity to prove his worth.

Rickie Lambert started the last league game – against West Brom – after coming in for the Italian in the wake of a Champions League defeat against Basel in Switzerland.

But the former Southampton striker is likely to miss out this time and instead face Swansea on Tuesday night in the Capital One Cup.

Balotelli is yet to score a Premier League goal for the Reds so Rodgers will be hoping his controversial striker can get going against the Tigers.

That would certainly take some sting out of the criticism that has been thrown at the Italy international in the last few days.

His only goal since his summer move came against Bulgarian minnows Ludogorets in the Champions League.

Balotelli’s poor performance against Real was on the back of a dour display against QPR last Sunday.

He fired over from seven yards with the goal at his mercy at Loftus Road.

But Rodgers may feel putting Balotelli straight back in will do more for his confidence rather than risking his self-belief by dumping him on the bench.

The striker is under massive pressure to start impressing or he could be sold in January with his future at the club in real doubt.

And with Daniel Sturridge set to return from an ankle injury in the next month, his chances to start could become very limited.



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