Mario Balotelli pleads Liverpool fans for time after slow start to Anfield career

MARIO Balotelli has pleaded for patience and promised Liverpool fans he will eventually come good.

SLOW STARTER: Mario Balotelli has scored only once for Liverpool and is still searching for his first goal in the Premier League

The £16m summer buy from AC Milan has flopped so far, with just one goal in eight games.

Balotelli, 24, insists he is still getting used to life at Anfield and boss Brendan Rodgers’ style.

Rodgers has used Balotelli as the main striker in Daniel Sturridge’s absence and the Italy striker knows he needs to get in the box more when the England star is out.

Balotelli said: “I can see the Liverpool fans really like me, although I know that maybe they are a little upset because I don’t score.

"They appreciate that I am working hard, which is nice.

"I know I have a goal in the Champions League, but in the Premier League I have to start with one.

"Right now my first league goal is my first and only objective.

"I need to get in the box more. I don’t do it enough, but it is something I am working to try to do more.

"I have never been a real, out-and-out striker.

"If it was my choice, I would always go with two strikers. It’s the way I like to play, but Brendan asked me to play as first striker.”

Liverpool are ninth, nine points off leaders Chelsea. But Balotelli has not given up on winning the title.

Ahead of Sunday’s trip to QPR he told Sport magazine: “I am focused and I want to work on us winning the league, not coming in the first four places.

"No one is in this competition to try and lose it.”