'Mario Balotelli is a waste of time who shouldn't be anywhere near Liverpool team. 99 out of 100 he will let you down,' says Mark Lawrenson
BBC pundit and former Red is not happy with the striker
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Your support makes all the difference.Mario Balotelli is a "waste of time" who shouldn't be anywhere near the Liverpool first team, according to former Red Mark Lawrenson.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Lawrenson launched an attack on the striker, who has scored only four goals for the club since his £16m transfer from AC Milan last summer.
"Forget about Mario Balotelli. He is an absolute waste of time. He shouldn't be anywhere near this team,"he said.
"I can see why Brendan Rodgers threw him on today as he might just create something, but 99 times out of 100 he will let you down."
Lawrenson won five league titles, three league cups, one FA Cup and one European Cup while playing for the club between 1981 and 1988.
Balotelli came on in the 59th-minute of the goalless draw with Blackburn Rovers on Sunday in the FA Cup sixth-round. The replay because of the draw will not take place for another month.
Liverpool are unable to take part in a replay in the next fortnight due to Uefa regulations preventing domestic games from clashing with Champions League or Europa League fixtures. An international break will further delay the replay at Ewood Park.
Reds' manager Brendan Rodgers has spoken of his frustration that the replay will not take place for another month, but admitted that Bradford and Reading are in a far worse predicament than his side. Their replay at the Madejski Stadium will go ahead next Monday despite both clubs having league fixtures 48 hours before the tie.
“I believe the [Liverpool vs Blackburn] replay is early April, the 7th or 8th,” said Rodgers.
“It is certainly not what it is for Reading and Bradford. That is unbelievable.
“I feel for them, having to play Saturday and again on Monday. It is incredible. It’s unfair for both clubs with so much at stake. I feel sorry for [Bradford manager Phil Parkinson] Parky and for Steve [Clarke, Reading manager] and for the players.”
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