Whilst Daniel Sturridge looks more than capable of upping his contribution this season, Liverpool did look a little short of striking options against Southampton last week. Luckily, Brendan Rodgers moved to steady the ship by bringing in Mario Balotelli.
Is he the touch of class that Liverpool need, or could he prove to be too difficult for Brendan Rodgers to manage?
Mario Balotelli has a poor reputation at best, but there’s no doubting his ability level, or his goal-scoring nous. In his two previous seasons at AC Milan, he’s scored 30 goals in 54 appearances. He’s also managed to make an impact at international level, despite his youth.
He’s a powerful presence, he’s nippy and he’s got a decent level of technical ability. He seems to be a man for the big occasions. What’s more, he’s got experience in the Premier League. Why wouldn’t Liverpool be interested?
He’s no Luis Suarez, but he’s not a million miles away. He’s the kind of striker who could help The Reds to compete on multiple fronts. Given that he’s available for a fair price, this deal strikes me as something of a no-brainer.
He may cause Brendan Rodgers the occasional headache, but I’d argue that he’d be worth it.
What’s more, now that Luis Suarez has gone, don’t Liverpool fans need somebody who can provide them with the occasional crazy moment. Wouldn’t things feel a little topsy-turvy if everybody who plied their trade at Anfield had their head screwed on properly? What a boring world that would be!
All in all, this looks like a great piece of business for The Reds. Why AC Milan agreed to sell for so cheap is a mystery to me. Let’s just hope he brings his goal-scoring form with him from Serie A.
What’s your take? Where does Mario Balotelli’s future lie?
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