A Chance for Mario

“I think he has felt the warmth of the club since he’s been here and I’m sure he will look forward to playing at Anfield.”  These are the words of Brendan Rodgers, who looks set to start Mario Balotelli in a home clash against Aston Villa today.  

In the wake of signing the enigmatic Italian, the Liverpool manager described the deal as a ‘calculated risk.’  The risk obviously has to do with Balotelli’s controversial past, but the upside is infinite given the Anfield patrons’ habit of adopting the more exuberant type.    

Rodgers is a pragmatic manager in the mould of Jose Mourinho.  The Scotsman doesn't play the same tricks with the opposition, but shares the ability to get the best out of his players. 

I say this because of the unconditional confidence the Liverpool manager instills in his squad, which has seen the rapid maturation of previously immature talents such as Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge, and Raheem Sterling.  

Upon taking the job at Anfield, Rodgers has been tasked with taking advantage of chances.  In his tenure, Rodgers has already solidified the club as a title contender, developed young sensations into star players, and appears to have bought the right talents to improve his club.  

This weekend, Mario Balotelli has a chance to similarly solidify himself in the good graces of the Liverpool faithful.  With Daniel Sturridge set to miss three weeks with a thigh injury, Balotelli replaces the Englishman as the most accomplished striker at the club.  

Against Aston Villa, Balotelli will almost assuredly lead the line in what is sure to be an offensive outburst from the Reds.  Alberto Moreno has settled into the squad after a troubled start; his 90 yard run with the ball against Tottenham which resulted in a goal was nothing short of pure brilliance.  

Lazar Markovic looks ready to play, while Rickie Lambert has cemented himself as a difference-maker off the bench.  However, Balotelli has yet to officially announce his return to the premier league.  His only attempt on goal was saved by Hugo Lloris, a header which should have found the back of the net.  

Today, Balotelli has a chance to set himself in stone amongst the Reds’ support.  His quality unquestioned, Balotelli can resurrect a career that has hit pothole after pothole on the road to the top.

He showed his class at Manchester City at times, and introduced himself to the international game at the Euro in 2012.  In the absence of Liverpool’s main man, Balotelli has a clear cut chance to break out in style in front of what is sure to be an Anfield crowd with open arms.  

Premier League Stars Shine During Break

Angel Di Maria, Manchester United/Argentina

After the first round of international friendlies, Di Maria is undoubtedly the top performer of anyone involved.  He assisted the first three goals for Argentina before getting in on the action himself for the fourth goal in a shocking 4-2 win over Germany.  Red Devil fans can rest easy that the club’s money was well-spent on this electirying playmaker.  

Loic Remy, Chelsea/France

After Karim Benzema had a goal disallowed in the first half for offside, second half substitute Remy struck to sink Spain, who are still in a free-fall following the World Cup.  

Mathieu Debuchy, Arsenal/France

Debuchy was one of five outfield players for France who played the entire 90 minutes against Spain in a 1-0 win.  Debuchy has made the right back spot his in the national team, keeping ex-Arsenal fullback Bacary Sagna nailed to the bench.  

Raheem Sterling, Liverpool/England

Sterling was by far the best player on the field for the Three Lions, who lacked both invention and energy.  Sterling won the penalty that decided the game, and could have inflicted further damage on Norway when he was granted a central position as Rooney made way.  

Edin Dzeko, Manchester City/Bosnia-Herzegovina 

Dzeko helped Bosnia-Herzegovina to a 3-0 win over Liechtenstein, netting his 37th international goal in 66 appearances.  The physical forward continues to be the face of and lead the line for his national team.  

Erik Lamela, Tottenham/Argentina

Lamela has completely turned around his career in the premier league with some impressive performances in preseason and in the first few fixtures.  His form with Argentina was also impressive last night, scoring the second goal and causing problems for Germany all the while.  

Premier League Hurts the Three Lions

Football is on the rise in the United States.  Interest in the World Cup was at record highs, with a hefty handful of American Outlaws making the trip to Brazil, the rest of us opting for a rowdy viewing party or the comfort of our own couches (I opted for option b to avoid such crowds).  

Meanwhile across the Atlantic Ocean, England are in dire need of some new blood and a reinvigorated spirit.  Being outperformed by the Americans in the last two World Cups is not only embarrassing, it just plain shouldn’t happen.  

People looking at such failures instinctively point their fingers at the less-than-energetic Roy Hodgson.  Hodgson, stubbornly unwilling to deviate from his favored 4-4-2 formation, is not entirely to blame for these failures.  

The problem with the Three Lions lies in the premier league.  As Hodgson pointed out on Tuesday, Danny Welbeck’s move to Arsenal is not only good for the player but also for the national team.  As I wrote yesterday, Welbeck will feature centrally for Arsenal, his preferred position that he seldom was placed at in his tenure at Manchester United.  

Against Norway, Welbeck replaced new captain Wayne Rooney and changed the game for the final 20 minutes.  His pace and work rate were impressive, while a player with his mobility and skill set could be deadly at the tip of an attack.  

Hodgson also argued that young English players aren’t getting the proper chances and exposure they deserve.  This summer, 530 million pounds was spent on foreign players joining the league, and it’s hard to argue with the manager in this case.  

The likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton, and Southampton have laid a rather slim platform for England, but it's better than nothing.  Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are established members of the squad, as are Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson.  More recently, Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Calum Chambers, and John Stones have also joined the fray.  

Players like Theo Walcott and Ross Barkley are unavailable because of injury.  England surely miss them, but what they should miss more is the presence of an English core at the other big clubs in the league.

Clubs who consistently spend the most money on foreign players are doing absolutely nothing for the national team.  Manchester City only have two England internationals in Joe Hart and James Milner, neither of whom have been particularly excellent for the Three Lions, nor will they have a major impact on the future of the team.  

Of the six players Manchester United bought this year for a kings ransom, just one of them is English in Shaw.  However, he will not feature at Old Trafford as much as he did for a very good Saints squad with the presence of fellow left-siders Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo in the fray.  

Players like James Wilson, Reece James, and Tyler Blackett are options for the Red Devils, but it’s not likely than any of them will see significant playing time from here on out with the arrivals of the new signings.  Phil Jones was granted a start, but his performances with Manchester United have been inconsistent to say the least.  

The aforementioned Rooney has the support of his teammates in his new captain's role, but his exclusion late in the game signaled a change in which England were far more dangerous with Sterling in the middle.  

Chelsea have done little to contribute to the national team, but this is probably not very high on Jose Mourinho’s list of priorities.  With the exits of Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole, John Terry and Gary Cahill are the lone Englishmen left in the first team, neither of whom contribute to England’s brave new world.  

Cahill will be 32 by the next World Cup, and Leighton Baines will be 33.  In the short term, Hodgson needs these players, but will eventually need to cut ties with his loyal deputies in favor of a fresher team.

John Stones and Calum Chambers have impressed for their clubs at center back, giving promise to the future of the back line that could also feature Shaw, Kieran Gibbs, Steven Caulker, and Jon Flanagan, Gibbs being the oldest at 24.  

Arsene Wenger has taken it upon himself to implement a strong English core at the Emirates.  Roberto Martinez has locked down Ross Barkley in a long-term deal, and will be integral in the rise of both him and Stones.  Brendan Rodgers prioritized Adam Lallana in the transfer market, and has mainstays in the lineup in Daniel Sturridge, Sterling, and Henderson.  

If Hodgson wants to see results with the national team, he has to find it in himself to grant Sterling a position in the middle, but more importantly he has to pray that the pool for English players gets deeper amongst the big clubs in England.  It’s rare for a young English player to get a chance to play at a big club, part of the reason Welbeck’s move to Arsenal will benefit England.  

It’s a flawed system, in which an imported player with a big price tag is more likely to see the field then an academy player who has been with the club since boyhood.  The premier league is considered by many to be the toughest league in Europe from top to bottom, but the strengthening of the league has an equally negative effect on the performance of the Three Lions.  

Will Mario on Merseyside Work?

Luis Suarez’ exit from Anfield signaled a major change for the Merseyside club.  Personnel-wise, a crop of new signings litter the training ground nowadays, and the polarizing presence of the Uruguayan is no more.  However, the antics-driven media fracas which hung over Liverpool like a cloud (literally, it’s always cloudy on Merseyside) is back with the arrival of Mario Balotelli from AC Milan.  

18 months ago, Balotelli was sold to his boyhood club by Manchester City and Roberto Mancini, who after years of trying to tame the young Italian’s mercurial personality, threw in the towel.  Balotelli was instrumental in the 2011-2012 premier league title, but was known more for making the wrong sort of headlines.  

The stories go on and on about the striker, about how he drove his car into a Brescia women’s prison, how he once set his house on fire with fireworks, and how he inexplicably showed up at an Inter Milan press conference to congratulate the club on hiring a new manager with cameras rolling and all.  Thus, one has to wonder if life at Liverpool will be any simpler than it was for him in Manchester.

Is he a rotten egg or is Mario Balotelli in the mold of ‘misunderstood genius’?  His behavior off the field has been nothing short of bizarre, but on the field his talent is unquestionable.  It is expected that Brendan Rodgers will utilize his new striker next to Daniel Sturridge, reverting to the two-forward formation the Reds played in with Saurez.  

Balotelli will pick up a chunk of Suarez’ absent goal output, but the issue will be finding enough playing time for everyone.  When Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic return, Liverpool will have a plethora of attacking options.  Keeping Balotelli happy is a must however, since his discontent could derail a title challenge altogether as it did in 2012-2013.  

However, it will be easier to keep Balotelli happy in England than in Milan. Balotelli is desperate to play on a contending squad, and there is hardly a racist presence in England.  The best book I’ve read this year has to be I Think Therefore I Play, which is Andrea Pirlo’s autobiography.  

Pirlo, a very well-spoken individual in his own right, sees Mario as a symbol for the fight against racism in not just Italy, but the entire world.  Pirlo puts Balotelli’s life struggles into perspective, how he just wants to be loved and play football.  I felt I had made up my mind on the striker years ago, but listening to what Pirlo says about him sways him toward the ‘misunderstood genius’ crowd.  

Being one of the only African-American Italian players in Serie A, Balotelli’s stints in Italy have been marred by improper fan conduct and hateful gestures directed at him.  For me, Balotelli is going into a very positive situation at Liverpool.  At Manchester City, players are not loved as they are at Anfield.  He had the bad-boy-for-hire image at the Etihad, and while the home crowd cheered him, they didn’t adore him.  

Even through all the turmoil he insinuated at Liverpool, Luis Suarez was still loved by home fans until the day he left (well, you know…).  It should go the same way for Balotelli who, for what it’s worth, has never bitten another player on the pitch.  At 24, it is time for the Italian to become more a leader, something Brendan Rodgers will make crystal-clear to him.  

With talents like Raheem Sterling, Coutinho, Adam Lallana, and the presence of Steven Gerrard, Balotelli is in a place to succeed, but only if he puts his situation into perspective.  At Liverpool, the team won’t be built around Balotelli; he will be the one who has to adapt, but it is also him that could be the final piece in the post-Suarez Liverpool era puzzle.  

His work rate has always been in question and doesn’t share the same knack for hunting the ball down like Luis Suarez does.  Even so, it was a no-brainer for Rodgers to bring in Balotelli at that price.  His age almost guarantees that his value won’t dip given his abilities, and he could even feature as early as Monday against Manchester City (what a debut that would be!).  

It seems we’ve been saying it for years now, but Balotelli has all the potential in the world.  Of all the clubs Balotelli could have gone to, Liverpool may be the best choice for him.  Brendan Rodgers proves time and time again that he is an excellent man-manager who gets the most out of his players.  As long as he keeps the Italian happy, Suarez could be a forgotten name in Liverpool in a few months’ time. 

How Liverpool Can Succeed Against City

If there is one thing premier league viewers can be assured of, it’s that Manchester City will bring it at the Etihad Stadium.  With a 17-1-1 mark last season at home, the Blues come off an impressive title-winning campaign in which they netted 63 goals in front of their home fans.  

Liverpool shared similar success at home, but won’t be playing in the friendly confines of Anfield on Monday evening.  Liverpool and Manchester will meet for just the second premier league fixture of the season in the first marquee matchup between two title contenders in the new campaign. 

If Liverpool are going to have any success against high-octane Manchester City, they must defend better in the middle of the park than they did against Southampton.  James Ward-Prowse was allowed too much time and space, but that’s not to take anything away from the impressive Saints teenager.  

Emre Can has to start in place of the sluggish Lucas, whose time may be wearing thin at Liverpool these days.  Can has the engine and tenacity in the tackle to cause discomfort for the likes of Yaya Toure and David Silva in the midfield.  Can’s presence should ease pressure on Steven Gerrard, while the German is considered by many to be the Liverpool captain’s heir in central midfield.  

The most important area of the pitch for Liverpool will be the defensive line.  Dejan Lovren appears primed to take up a leadership role alongside either Martin Skrtel or Mamadou Sakho.  However, Alberto Moreno would be the focus of attention if he were to make his Liverpool debut on Monday.  

Moreno wowed La Liga with his pace and skill on the ball going forward, but what makes Moreno such a valuable asset to the Reds is his defending ability.  Similar to Jon Flanagan, Moreno has the ability to shut down a flank, something Glen Johnson looks less and less capable of doing.  The Englishman could still feature for Liverpool, but I would argue a fullback tandem of Flanagan and Moreno will be most effective against Manchester City.  

Finally, Liverpool must utilize their speed all over the field if they are to snatch goals at the Etihad.  Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge will feed off of Coutinho, who was recently called up by Dunga to the Selecao.  The aforementioned fullbacks will likely be eager to get forward on occasion, and I personally can't wait to see Moreno pitch in to the attack.  Obviously, taking their likely limited chances is a must if they are to walk away from the Etihad with any points.  

Brendan Rodgers grows more experienced every week in the premier league.  He should have seen Javier Manquillo’s rough go about against Ryan Betrand and Dusan Tadic as a sign that he isn’t ready for a fixture of this magnitude in England.  Manchester City will surely attack Liverpool, so they have to maintain shape and take their chances with pace when they are presented.  For me, a shift in personnel would lead to improvements for Rodgers’ side in such a test on the road.  

Liverpool Loving Lovren

The emphasis on Liverpool’s transfer dealings since the sale of Luis Suarez has mostly been on attacking players.  Players such as Markovic, Lambert, Lallana, and Origi have been purchased by the Reds, but arguably the most important signing of the summer has been Dejan Lovren from Southampton.  

Aside from Raheem Sterling, Lovren was Liverpools best player today.  The Serb was active on both sides of the ball, turning possession into chances with his confident long-range passing, while commanding the defensive third with his leadership and tenacity.  

Liverpool’s opening weekend triumph was largely unconvincing, with the visiting Saints dominating a respectable amount of play at Anfield.  Southampton had several chances to lead and level in the second half, but had Lovren not been on the field for Liverpool, the result would have been different.  

The 20 million pound signing from Southampton made quite the impression on fans and critics alike in his premier league debut for his new club, immediately taking up a leadership role that was left vacant by the now-retired Jamie Carragher.  He was constantly putting himself in positions to make key interceptions and tackles, while acting as a competent leader alongside Martin Skrtel.  

Last season, Liverpool lacked serious leadership in the back line.  Kolo Toure, the most experienced of the lot, didn’t see the field very often, and made the odd regrettable gaffe from time to time.  Mamadou Sakho is still adapting to the speed and relentlessness of the league, while Daniel Agger has since been pushed into an almost exclusively reserved role.  

Skrtel is an excellent defender, but he lacks the leadership and tactical discipline to lead the Liverpool defense.  He has a knack for scoring huge goals, most notably notching a double against Arsenal in a rout of the North Londoners last season.  However, Skrtels emotional approach hurt Liverpool in the long run last year.  The Reds saw too many late goals conceded, clearly lacking a dominative presence on the field.   

The draw with Crystal Palace late in the season was particularly painful for Liverpool fans, but Lovren brings a new dimension to the defense at Anfield.  If anything, Brendan Rodgers needed defensive solidity.  I expect to see Emre Can start alongside Steven Gerrard sooner rather than later, but Dejan Lovren looks like he is there to stay in the starting lineup.