article_snippet.sent: Mario Balotelli was flagged offside four times, more than any other player in the game, despite only coming on at half-time.
article_snippet.sent: Despite playing the full 90 minutes, Raheem Sterling managed just 18 passes in the match — the fewest of any player in the starting 22.
article_snippet.sent: Brendan Rodgers changed Raheem Sterling formation after 20 minutes on Sunday.
article_snippet.sent: Then, at half-time, Raheem Sterling rolled Raheem Sterling dice again, sending on Mario Balotelli and moving Raheem Sterling from a centre forward role that always seems so alien to Mario Balotelli.
article_snippet.sent: Brendan Rodgers pointed out that Mario Balotelli has done this before, stressed that Mario Balotelli changes weren’t indicative of Mario Balotelli own errant planning.
article_snippet.sent: Missing Daniel Sturridge through injury once again, Brendan Rodgers chose to overlook Daniel Sturridge three alternatives – Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert – in favour of a front three featuring Sterling in the central role.
article_snippet.sent: It asks too much of Sterling as well as taking Daniel Sturridge from the wide position from which Daniel Sturridge always looks most dangerous.
article_snippet.sent: As Daniel Sturridge continues to struggle for health, Liverpool’s problems in that area – given the complete lack of faith in Daniel Sturridge supposed understudies – are very real and to solve that in the transfer market without the promise of Champions League football to use as bait will be some challenge for Liverpool much-discussed transfer committee.
article_snippet.sent: The Balotelli substitution did not work,