Liverpool’s Brendan Rodgers: Penny has dropped for Mario Balotelli

Brendan Rodgers says the penny has finally dropped for Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli.

The Italy international has enjoyed his best week as a Liverpool player since his £16m move from AC Milan last summer.

The penny has dropped now and he is a player of high quality

Brendan Rodgers

However, Balotelli scored his first Premier League goal against Tottenham Hotspur before he contributed to Adam Lallana’s winner at Selhurst Park.

Daniel Sturridge cancelled out Fraizer Campbell’s first-half goal before Balotelli’s free-kick was parried into the path of Adam Lallana.

Speaking following his side’s 2-1 victory in south-east London, Liverpool manager Rodgers expressed his satisfaction with Balotelli’s new-found work ethic.

“Mario’s training well and starting to really work and focus on his job. He came on and did really well – there was good power on the free-kick and it was a great strike.

“It was difficult when he first arrived because we play with a style and intensity that he’s not used to, but the penny has dropped now and he is a player of high quality.”

Balotelli came off the bench to score an 86th-minute winner at Anfield on Tuesday night to help Liverpool seal a 3-2 victory over rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

The 24-year-old has scored three goals in all competitions since his summer move, netting against Middlesbrough in the League Cup and the club’s Champions League opponents Ludogorets.