Mario Balotelli Proves the Gamewinner Again for Liverpool Against Besiktas

ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL—Mario Balotelli came off the bench to score the winning goal for Liverpool at Anfield for the second week in a row, scoring the only goal of the game against Besiktas from the penalty spot with five minutes remaining.

Although, as ever with Balotelli, the goal appears to have been amidst controversy, with the Liverpool No. 45 taking the penalty despite captain Jordan Henderson initially going to take the spot kick—something Steven Gerrard told ITV Sport post-match should have happened.

Gerrard said that Mario "had been mischievous" and that it was not nice to see a player break dressing-room code.

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Asked about the incident in his post-match press conference, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers refused to be drawn on the incident and who should have taken it. Three times Rodgers was asked, but each time he insisted on only discussing the result.

The third and final time he was asked for clarification over whether Henderson was the designated penalty taker, he replied emphatically: "I'm clarifying that we won the game 1-0."

The match

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On Besiktas' only previous appearance at Anfield back in 2007, the match ended in a record Champions League victory for Liverpool, 8-0. But for long periods of this encounter, it appeared the Europa League last 32 tie was destined to end goalless.

Up until the goal, the best chances had fallen to Demba Ba and Adam Lallana. Ba had his shot saved well by Simon Mignolet when put through in the first half, while Lallana missed a fantastic chance from close range shortly after the interval.

Liverpool were lacking inspiration to break down an organised and resolute side, with Jordon Ibe the Reds' biggest attacking threat down the right. It was Ibe who eventually won the penalty after another run into the penalty area at the Kop end. He was upended and Balotelli coolly slotted from 12 yards—after insisting he take the kick over Henderson.

Balotelli introduction

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Rodgers brought on Balotelli to make a game-changing contribution for the third match in a row. The Italian scored the winner against Tottenham a week ago in the Premier League when replacing Daniel Sturridge.

Then against Crystal Palace on Saturday, Balotelli was introduced at half-time to partner Sturridge and gave Liverpool a much-needed different dimension in attack. Having two attackers allowed Sturridge more space, with the England forward hitting the opening goal shortly after half-time.

It was a similar story again here, with Sturridge and Liverpool struggling to break down a well-organised Besiktas defence. Long before Balotelli's introduction, it looked like his arrival into the game would be required.

He replaced the ineffective Philippe Coutinho on 63 minutes—the Brazilian has now started 18 games in a row in a little over two months and it is beginning to show. With games arriving so fast, he could certainly benefit from a game off.

Which opens the opportunity for Rodgers to replace Coutinho with Balotelli in the starting XI, thus giving Liverpool more presence up front. 

Balotelli partnered Sturridge and Emre Can moved into holding midfield, with Liverpool adopting a 3-1-4-2 shape. Rodgers may be tempted to change to starting with this shape in a fixture soon.

* Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise stated.