Thursday, 11th September, 2014
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has labelled reports that Mario Balotelli kicked a Wolverhampton Wanderers player in the head in a behind closed doors friendly "made up"
Balotelli was not selected for Italy duty by Azzurri coach Antonio Conte over the international break, leading to the striker reporting for training as usual at Liverpool.
Rodgers threw him into a match against Wolves to increase his match sharpness and reports soon surfaced claiming that the former Manchester City man had kicked an opponent in the head.
And the Liverpool manager has wasted little time in blasting the suggestion, insisting it did not happen.
"It's obviously a story that was made up", Rodgers told a press conference.
"The guy absolutely did nothing wrong.
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"We played a game here, both Kenny [Jackett, Wolves manager] and I were here watching the game. Both teams needed it towards the end of the week, the first international week.
"And Mario falls over in a tackle with George, George Saville who I've known since he was nine years of age.
"Both of them tackle, they fall over, George gets up, rubs his head, and the next time I see it's reported that Mario kicked him in the head.
"There was no incident at all and Mario's been as good as gold since he got here."
Balotelli is likely to spearhead Liverpool's attack against Aston Villa this weekend following the news that Daniel Sturridge is out for up to three weeks with a thigh injury.
The Italian joined Liverpool from AC Milan this summer.
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