Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers warned Mario Balotelli he “needs to improve” after a £16m move from Milan.

SuperMario has stuttered since returning to the Premier League and scored only one goal, against Ludogorets in the Champions League.

“In terms of his behaviour he is consciously trying to work hard at the aspects of the game of which we demand here in terms of intensity and work-rate,” insisted Rodgers.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers warned Mario Balotelli he “needs to improve” after a £16m move from Milan.

SuperMario has stuttered since returning to the Premier League and scored only one goal, against Ludogorets in the Champions League.

“In terms of his behaviour he is consciously trying to work hard at the aspects of the game of which we demand here in terms of intensity and work-rate,” insisted Rodgers.

“In terms of goals he needs to improve, it is as simple as that. Not just him but any striker is judged on goals and at this moment he hasn’t probably hit the numbers he would want to.”

In last night’s 1-0 Champions League defeat to Basel, it was pointed out Balotelli never touched the ball in the penalty area throughout the game.

“That is down to the team. You have to get yourself into those areas but it was about the service arriving in and our quality last night wasn’t to the standard,” argued Rodgers.

“But you also have to be able to score and create goals yourself as a front player and he didn’t do that.

“Confidence is a little bit low in the team and it can become about the individual but that isn’t what we are about.

“This club is about the whole function of the team and when we work to that principle that is when we are at our best.”

This kind of form means it is unlikely Balotelli will be included in Antonio Conte’s Italy squad for Euro 2016 qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Malta.

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