Rodgers confirms that the striker is likely to make his Reds bow vs Spurs.
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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that new £16m signing Mario Balotelli is likely to make his debut for the club against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday.
Balotelli joined the Reds from AC Milan on Monday, but had to watch from the stands as his new side lost 3-1 to one of his previous teams Manchester City.
However, the Italy international is in line to at least make the squad when the Reds travel to White Hart Lane to take on Spurs this weekend.
“I think by the weekend [he’ll be ready to feature],” Rodgers told the club website.
“He’s been into pre-season and he’s played three 45-minute games. He might not be up to full match speed, but he’s looking fit.
“We’ve done some analysis on him. The medical and sports science team have worked with him already and he’s in very, very good condition.
“He’s in to work and he’ll be available for the squad for the weekend.”
Balotelli became the Merseysiders’ ninth new signing of the summer upon completing his move from Milan and takes Rodgers’ total spending to £117m.
It’s unlikely that any new faces will be joining the 24-year-old and co at Anfield and this is a chance for the striker to finally live up to his potential.
Balotelli’s previous two-and-a-half years in England with City were often controversial, with on and off field misdemeanours often distracting from the good work the Italian did.
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