Kevin Kilbane, Shay Given believe Balotelli will make 'immediate impact' at Liverpool

Former Everton winger Kevin Kilbane feels that Italian striker Mario Balotelli will make an immediate impact at Liverpool.

Former Manchester City striker Balotelli is set to complete a 16 million pounds move to the Anfield club from AC Milan on Monday.

Kilbane said that Balotelli is an impact player and will make a difference straight away and he added that the Italian might be what Liverpool need, The BBC reported.

Fellow Match of the Day 2 Extra pundit Shay Given agrees with Kilbane too. He thinks that Balotelli will thrive under boss Brendan Rodgers.

The Italy international will not sign in time to face his former employers in Monday night's Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium.

Balotelli, who is expected to sign a deal worth close to 1,20,000 pounds-a-week, had a colourful two-and-a-half years spell at City, which was punctuated with flashes of brilliance and episodes of indiscipline.

Liverpool have sought assurances from Balotelli about his commitment and off-field behaviour and former City keeper Given, currently with Aston Villa, thinks Rodgers is the man to bring out the best in him.

Given, the former Republic of Ireland keeper, said that Balotelli is in his mid-20s, adding that the penny is going to drop that he needs to grow up and focus on football. He said that Rodgers is a great manager and will sort the striker out.

Given also thinks tabloid tales of Balotelli's alleged indiscretions are exaggerated. He said that a lot of stuff one reads about Balotelli is pie in sky, or firework in the sky.

He said that he was with Balotelli at City, and added that the Italian is just a big kid, he does silly things in the changing room, and winds people up. Given added that Balotelli has not always done things by book.

But, Given said that at 16 million pounds Balotelli is a snip, adding that he is an Italian international striker and it is a great deal.