Jamie Carragher backs Brendan Rodgers to handle Mario Balotelli, but questions if the Italy forward will be a regular starter at Liverpool.
The 24-year-old is set for a return to the Premier League, with the Anfield outfit closing in on a €20m deal with Milan.
Considering the forward’s imminent arrival, former Reds defender Carragher has suggested Super Mario won’t get it all his own way.
Jamie Carragher backs Brendan Rodgers to handle Mario Balotelli, but questions if the Italy forward will be a regular starter at Liverpool.
The 24-year-old is set for a return to the Premier League, with the Anfield outfit closing in on a €20m deal with Milan.
Considering the forward’s imminent arrival, former Reds defender Carragher has suggested Super Mario won’t get it all his own way.
“They definitely need a striker, there’s no doubt about that,” the retired former England international and current pundit told Sky Sports this week.
“At the moment they only have Daniel Sturridge and Rickie Lambert – it looks like Fabio Borini is going to move on – and you need strikers.
“Would he be the final piece of the jigsaw? Would he make the starting XI if everyone was fit and firing? Who knows?
“At the moment Daniel Sturridge has got 36 goals in 50 games for Liverpool and at this moment he is the main man up front.
“Would Brendan then accommodate another striker, whoever that may be, like he did with Luis Suarez?
“He has lots of options now, Brendan Rodgers, and I don’t think he will play the same team too often so they do need those options.”
Reports are that Liverpool are looking to insert conduct and behaviour clauses in Balotelli’s contract, to try to manage his difficult personality. For Carragher, manager Rodgers may also have the right characteristics on this task.
“Brendan has had plenty of practice with Luis I suppose. The main thing for any player is what they do on the pitch.
“Both of those players had issues off the pitch, but I think it’s fair to say Suarez did a lot more on the pitch.
“You will always get a little bit more freedom if you’re producing on the pitch, that’s the main thing for any player. Balotelli is a player who has been here before and did a lot of stuff that was good for us in the media.
“He probably didn’t quite show his potential at Manchester City and that, coupled with his off-the-field problems, probably saw him depart.
“He’s the Italian number one striker and you want to see good players here. Liverpool do need a striker.”