Not so super Mario

Amidst Liverpool's summer spending, there is no doubt that the signing that grabbed the most attention was the £16m paid to AC Milan for the notorious Mario Balotelli. His second spell in England,  manager Brendan Rogers admits that signing Balotelli is a "calculated risk,"  with his on and off the field behavioural problems. There is no arguing that the Italian does have the potential to be a world class but, many have grown frustrated with how Balotelli has squandered his talent in recent years.

It's early days in his Liverpool career however, Mario Balotelli has not impressed. He seems to be lethargic in his style of play like he was at AC Milan and with only one goal for his efforts this season, many are concerned that Balotelli is still not doing enough. In the goal department, he is one for the trying with 63 shots in his last 20 Premier League games and scoring just the 1 goal.

So what is the reason that is preventing Balotelli from performing like many know he can? At AC Milan, Balotelli's form was up and down throughout the whole season, sometimes being the game changer but, more often than not, was being carried by his team mates. He would often go missing in games and when he wasen't performing it showed. If things weren't going Mario's way, he would stroll around the pitch in what can only be described as a petulant child's strop.

Down on his his luck, Balotelli needs to score more

It would be frustrating for fans to see, as they knew that Balotelli was a player that could be in the world class bracket if he got his head down and worked hard although "Super Mario" didn't seem interested. In what can only be described as a horror season for AC Milan, many doubt that Balotelli was fully committed  to his boyhood club.

Dropped by new manager Antonio Conte for a second time from the Italian national side, Balotelli is now well and truly fighting for his spot as the main striker with the preferred Simone Zaza, the in form Graziano Pelle and former Torino man Ciro Immobile all selected ahead of Balotelli. Many hope that Conte's omission of Balotelli will be the kick up the backside he needs to start performing at his best.

Liverpool fans have every right to expect more from the 24 year old. Hopefully, Balotelli will begin to produce his best once he feels fully gelled into the side, who have brought a number of new faces over the summer that will need time to build up a rapport with one another. Liverpool, like Balotelli, have also been disappointing in the early days of the campaign.

A notorious figure, Balotelli will need to behave 

Roberto Mancini, a man who has twice worked with him at Inter Milan and Manchester City, says that this is his last chance. "Mario is a good guy, but he is aware that Liverpool is probably his final opportunity to prove what he can do on the pitch. It's his last chance." 

Balotelli is definitely a gamble at £16m but, if he can get his head down and produces his best, that fee will look like an absolute coup. If Mancini is right and this is the last chance saloon for Balotelli, then he has certainly picked a club where it is make or break in Liverpool. As ever, all eyes will be on the Italian. Is "Super Mario" really that super? Time to find out...