'Lumbering' Balotelli is the opposite of Suarez, says former Liverpool boss

Posted Friday, October 03, 2014 by Talksport.co.uk

'Lumbering' Balotelli is the opposite of Suarez, says former Liverpool boss
Roy Evans fears Mario Ballotelli may be having a negative impact on his Liverpool teammates.

The Italian striker failed to shine as the Reds’ poor start to the season continued with a 1-0 defeat to Basel in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Balotelli has scored just once for Liverpool since he was signed from AC Milan in the summer to replace Luis Suarez, and Evans claims he is the polar opposite of the industrious Uruguayan.

Speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, the former Anfield boss said: “He has a way about him on the pitch that doesn’t exactly endear himself to everybody.

"Suarez was the opposite. He could light the game up and he could bring everybody along with him and they would put the same effort in as Suarez did.

"His [Balotelli’s] style of play and the way he lumbers though a game, maybe that is catching.”

Steven Gerrard were scathingly critical of the Reds' display in Switzerland, and Evans admits he does not remember a poorer performance under Brendan Rodgers.

"Liverpool just didn’t perform on the day. They lacked imagination,” he said. “They usually start the game with a high tempo and put teams under pressure, but there was none of that.

"They created chances, but didn’t look in any sort of shape to put them away.

"The worry was the attitude last night. Normally, they are really on top of the game and they put teams under pressure, but it was as if they were looking at each other last night saying, ‘well, come on, who is going to get it going?’

"It just didn’t happen for them and you have got to make it happen. They have put themselves in a dangerous position now in that group."

And Evans has warned Liverpool, without a win in three Premier League games, must start firing soon if they are to have any hope of enjoying a successful campaign.

"It is not just about last night’s game. It has been the same for more or less all season, except maybe for the Tottenham game and the Everton game at the weekend,” he continued.

"They have got to improve somewhere or it is going to be a poor season for them."