Liverpool forward Mario Balotelli proved his worth by scoring the equaliser against Swansea to help his team get a winner in the League Cup and progress to the quarter-finals. This was only the second goal of his Liverpool career. The former AC Milan and Manchester City striker has struggled for form and his previous goal came in the Champions League several weeks ago. Balotelli is yet to open his account in the Premier League, but defender Kolo Toure says that the forward has been showing the right attitude in recent weeks despite not being able to find the back of the net.
Balotelli’s most frustrating afternoon came in the 0-0 draw with Hull City last week. He came close with fierce shots that needed the goalkeeper to produce his best, while the 24-year-old was also at the end of several penalty appeals that could have been given on any other day. Brendan Rodgers has been both critical and supportive of him in the last few weeks. Touré, who has played with some of the best strikers in the world like Robin van Persie and Sergio Aguero, says that he has seen enough in Balotelli to suggest that this lack of goals is merely a blip.
Liverpool take on league strugglers Newcastle, who have just managed two wins in succession, during the weekend. “For strikers, goals are like food. Mario needs to feed himself by scoring goals. Now he’s got that one he will do that now, definitely. Getting that goal will be fantastic for his confidence. He is a great player, he has just been lacking goals. Mario is my mate and I’ve tried to help him like Stevie (Gerrard), the manager and everyone else in the dressing room. He is one of the best. He has just been missing goals but they will come now,” said Touré.