Friday, 31st October, 2014
Steven Gerrard has refused to pass a judgment on Liverpool team-mate Mario Balotelli after just ten games.
Since his switch to Liverpool from AC Milan this summer, the Italian has struggled to make his mark at the Anfield club.
He has found the back of the net only twice and has so far failed to score a league goal for the club this season, missing a number of golden opportunities.
Questions are now being asked of manager Brendan Rodgers’ decision to bring the maverick Italian to Anfield this summer, at a cost of £16m.
But the Liverpool captain is refusing to pass judgment on Balotelli on the evidence of just ten games.
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He believes Balotelli should be afforded the time to get his form back and prove his worth for the club.
"He just needs time to score the goals he needs to prove to people he is worthy of staying here”, Gerrard was quoted as saying by ITV.
“I am not going to judge him after 10 games. To come in after [Luis] Suarez was always going to be a big ask and he's not feeling sorry for himself. He is working hard, doing extra shooting sessions.
"I've actually been impressed [with] the way he goes about his work. You hear all kinds of stories and rumours before you meet him, but he does all the work. I like the guy."
Liverpool will take an away trip to Newcastle tomorrow before travelling to Spain next week to take on Real Madrid on Tuesday.
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