Balotelli must work harder - Rodgers

Mario Balotelli must still improve his work
rate to start for Liverpool, according to
manager Brendan Rodgers.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers warned
Mario Balotelli he needed to improve his work
rate to get back into the starting line-up.
The Italian has found some goalscoring form
recently, netting the winners in Liverpool's
victories over Tottenham and Besiktas.
Both times Balotelli came off the bench to be
Liverpool's hero, although some controversy
surrounded whether he should have taken the
penalty against Besiktas.
Rodgers said he was "not really" happy with
Balotelli's performance, insisting he wanted to
see more from the 24-year-old.
“We need to ensure that whatever level of the
game we are playing at we have everyone
working as a team and once we get the
penalty, Mario stops working," he said.
"So he needs to improve on that facet of his
game to play in his position, rather than
standing on the side of the football field.
"He has contributed on the night, he has got
the penalty and scored the goal, but that is
what he is paid to do.
"So he needs to keep that efficiency in his
game and show that he can affect the team,
whether he is asked to play from the bench or
from the start."
Rodgers asked if Balotelli could become
Liverpool's go-to man, but again the Northern
Irishman pinpointed a need for improved work
rate.
"Well, if he works harder than when he came
on, he will be," he said.