LONDON - Liverpool must drop Mario Balotelli because
they cannot afford any "passengers" when they host Real
Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, says
former Anfield defender Jamie Carragher.
Italy striker Balotelli has scored only once in nine
appearances since signing from AC Milan for 16 million
pounds ($25.84 million) and has often cut a frustrated
figure during a series of low-key displays.
His abject performance in a 3-2 win at the Premier
League's bottom club Queens Park Rangers on Sunday
proved to Carragher that he should not play when Liverpool
face the European champions in Group B.
"He doesn't run around enough," Carragher, who made over
700 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool, told Sky
Sports television.
"Against Real Madrid you've got to get that crowd going.
You need to get back to the Liverpool of last year and that
pressing. There's got to be an energy about Liverpool that
we haven't seen; we've seen it once this season at Spurs.
"It's going on too long now and we can't keep waiting. It's
a huge game and Liverpool have to get something from it.
They can't have any passengers against Real Madrid.
Liverpool are yet to recreate the sparkling form that saw
them finish second in the Premier League last season and
are currently third in their group having suffered a shock
defeat against Swiss champions FC Basel earlier this
month.
In contrast, 10-times European champions Real have won
five consecutive league matches and Carragher expects
the Spanish visitors to see a lot of the ball.
The former defender, who won the Champions League with
Liverpool in 2005, says manager Brendan Rodgers must
play fleet-footed Raheem Sterling in favour of Balotelli to
ensure the hosts stretch the game.
"I would put Raheem Sterling in there because he can run
in behind and Liverpool may have to counter-attack a lot
of the game. Madrid may have a lot of the ball," he said.
"Sterling can also press from the front. He doesn't have to
play right up front and he can come back and help the
midfield.
"I think they can [get something from the game], but it's
how Brendan Rodgers sets up. You've got to get Anfield
bouncing. There's got to be an energy and intensity about
Liverpool."
News24
they cannot afford any "passengers" when they host Real
Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, says
former Anfield defender Jamie Carragher.
Italy striker Balotelli has scored only once in nine
appearances since signing from AC Milan for 16 million
pounds ($25.84 million) and has often cut a frustrated
figure during a series of low-key displays.
His abject performance in a 3-2 win at the Premier
League's bottom club Queens Park Rangers on Sunday
proved to Carragher that he should not play when Liverpool
face the European champions in Group B.
"He doesn't run around enough," Carragher, who made over
700 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool, told Sky
Sports television.
"Against Real Madrid you've got to get that crowd going.
You need to get back to the Liverpool of last year and that
pressing. There's got to be an energy about Liverpool that
we haven't seen; we've seen it once this season at Spurs.
"It's going on too long now and we can't keep waiting. It's
a huge game and Liverpool have to get something from it.
They can't have any passengers against Real Madrid.
Liverpool are yet to recreate the sparkling form that saw
them finish second in the Premier League last season and
are currently third in their group having suffered a shock
defeat against Swiss champions FC Basel earlier this
month.
In contrast, 10-times European champions Real have won
five consecutive league matches and Carragher expects
the Spanish visitors to see a lot of the ball.
The former defender, who won the Champions League with
Liverpool in 2005, says manager Brendan Rodgers must
play fleet-footed Raheem Sterling in favour of Balotelli to
ensure the hosts stretch the game.
"I would put Raheem Sterling in there because he can run
in behind and Liverpool may have to counter-attack a lot
of the game. Madrid may have a lot of the ball," he said.
"Sterling can also press from the front. He doesn't have to
play right up front and he can come back and help the
midfield.
"I think they can [get something from the game], but it's
how Brendan Rodgers sets up. You've got to get Anfield
bouncing. There's got to be an energy and intensity about
Liverpool."
News24
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