Rodgers claims Balotelli now faces major struggle to win back spot in Liverpool squad

Liverpool football team manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed that Italian striker Mario Balotelli now faces a major struggle to win back his place in the squad following his disappointing start with the club.

Balotelli joined Liverpool in a 16 million pound move from AC Milan and has since struggled to find pace in the Premier League. And now he could be out in the cold at Anfield for the rest of the season.

Balotelli couldn't even make the bench for the FA Cup tie with Bolton, despite five changes and players like Steven Gerrard being rested, with Rodgers confirming that he axed the striker because he simply doesn't do what the team requires, The Mirror reported.

Rodgers explained that he needs his strikers to show pace, movement and aggressive pressing and revealed that even Balotelli has admitted that he doesn't have that in his game.

The manager also bluntly claimed that it would be hard for the former Manchester City man to somehow reinvent himself between now and the end of the season to earn an Anfield future.

Rodgers said that he believes time would tell, adding that Balotelli still has a contribution to make, which the manager believes the Italian would do.

Rodgers claimed that the realisation has opened up in this last period of time, watching the team and seeing the change since that Manchester United game.

After the game against Bolton, Rodgers revealed that Balotelli wasn't injured, but simply not selected. He explained that the striker hasn't been good enough to justify a place in the squad and realises that himself.

Rodgers said that it's tough for Balotelli because obviously the team is going very well and the Italian has seen the real Liverpool over the last few weeks and he sees what is required to get in the team.

Rodgers claimed that they spent about an hour or so chatting, adding that Balotelli understands where it is at, and he knows what is required to get in the squad; the pressing and aggression, and he claimed that if one can't do that they are not going to be part of the team.