Intro:

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers on controversial striker Mario Balotelli on Thursday (23rd October), and the English Premier League visit of Hull City on Saturday (25th October).

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (English) Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool manager (on the Maria Balotelli 'shirt-swap' incident in the UEFA Champions League):

"Well, any action would be, obviously, kept within ourselves. Simple: just a conversation on the culture in this country and in particular at Liverpool. And that was it. Matter closed."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool manager:

"He is working hard on the training field to improve his opportunities to play in the team regular and to score goals. As long as he is doing his best then that is all I can ask as a coach and as a a manger. Whether that best is going to be good enough longer term - that remains to be seen. But that is the same for every player. Not just for Mario (Balotelli)."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool manager:

"Is this the Mario Balotelli press conference? I think it is something that..listen, he is like every other player. He wants to score. He wants to score goals and obviously in this moment in time he is not. So, hard work will improve your confidence and when you are confident you have more success - it's as simple as that."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool manager:

"Yeah, Steve (Bruce) has done an excellent job. He has got in some reinforcements in the summer and that has given them real depth to their squad. So, they are coming here on the back of a good result last weekend. Played three-sort-of-5-1-1 and made it difficult for Arsenal. Obviously takes the lead twice in the game it is very hard to break down. So, we recognise that it will be a real difficult task and game for us."