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"Treat him like an adult" - Rodgers' plan to keep Balotelli and his team in harmony

Roar Rookie
1st September, 2014
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Brendan Rodgers warned Liverpool’s title rivals his team are back in the groove after they marked Mario Balotelli’s debut with a scintillating 3-0 win at Tottenham.

Balotelli was supposed to steal the spotlight on his return to the Premier League but the flamboyant Italy striker had to play second fiddle to new teammates Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson on Sunday.

Sterling scored Liverpool’s opening goal early in the first half and delivered a sparkling display at the top of the midfield diamond formation Rodgers employed to overwhelm Tottenham’s fragile defence.

Balotelli’s strike partner Sturridge was a constant menace, while Henderson covered almost every blade of grass in midfield in a typically energetic showing.

Second half goals from Steven Gerrard and Alberto Moreno sealed the rout, capping the kind of vibrant performance that became Liverpool’s hallmark as they went within touching distance of winning the title last season before Steven Gerrard’s crucial slip against Chelsea gifted the title to Manchester City.

Now, despite the departure of star striker Luis Suarez to Barcelona, Rodgers’s team look to have got over last season’s title race meltdown and the Reds boss believes they will be among the main contenders to win the English crown once again.

“I thought we were excellent. It was an outstanding performance,” Rodgers said.

“We have risen to every challenge since I’ve been here. It was the same last year when people wondered if we could keep it up. The beauty of this group is they are very humble.

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“We clicked back to where we were last season. That was good to see, I think people will enjoy watching us this season.”

Balotelli offered glimpses of his vast talent and impressed Rodgers with his willingness to tackle the defensive side of the game, even marking at a corner for the first time in his career according to the Reds boss.

“Mario’s a good guy. If you take away some of the circus that surrounds him and treat him like an adult, it’ll bring the best out of him,” Rodgers said.

While Liverpool reasserted their title credentials, Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw at Leicester City.

With Olivier Giroud sidelined by a broken tibia, Yaya Sanogo started up front for Arsenal at newly promoted Leicester and he played a central role in the visitors’ 20th-minute opener.

The French striker could not find a way past Kasper Schmeichel from Santi Cazorla’s dinked pass but Alexis Sanchez followed up to slam home his first league goal since signing from Barcelona.

Arsenal’s lead was to last only two minutes, however, as Jeff Schlupp motored down the left wing before delivering an inviting cross that Leonardo Ulloa powered past Wojciech Szczesny with a firm header.

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The result left Arsene Wenger’s side four points below leaders Chelsea in seventh place in the table, while Leicester moved up to 15th.

In the day’s other game, Aston Villa won 2-1 at home to Hull City, through goals to Gabriel Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann, to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign and climb to third place in the early-season standings.

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