Brendan Rodgers has warned Mario Balotelli that he must earn back his place in the Liverpool first-team on merit. The striker has not featured for the Reds since 10 January due to illness but is now understood to be available for selection once again. The Italy international has struggled to find consistent form for Liverpool since joining the Merseyside club from AC Milan in a £16m deal last summer. He is yet to find the net in the Premier League despite making 12 appearances in the top flight this term. And Rodgers has told Balotelli that only hard work will guarantee him a place in the Reds’ starting line-up. “I am judging it every day in training – Mario is exactly the same as every other player, there is no special treatment for anyone.