Mario Balotelli Opens Up on Brendan Rodgers, Steven Gerrard and Liverpool Squad

Mario Balotelli was dropped from both the Liverpool and Italy squads earlier this month, but the controversial striker acknowledges he cannot be a "d--khead" if he's to succeed under Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.

The 24-year-old recently admitted as much during an interview with Tony Hodson of talkSPORT in which he spoke positively about his experience on Merseyside to date. Important club figures such as Rodgers and Steven Gerrard—who he likens to Andrea Pirlo—have already made quite an impression on the summer signing.

Balotelli knows he doesn't have room to mess around under Rodgers' tutelage, per Hodson:

"

He is very good, a strong character. And I think that comes out in the way the team plays. I think he can help me improve as a player. He is very open, everybody can talk to him – but first he looks at the person, and second he looks at the footballer. With Brendan, you need to be a good person – you don't have to be, how do you say it, a d--khead.

"

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Balotelli's blunt assessment shouldn't take anyone by surprise. He is an individual, whether on the pitch or not, who never shies away from letting his emotions show. Rodgers recently suggested "in terms of goals, he needs to improve," per BBC Sport, something the player has taken on board.

"I need to get in the box more," noted Balotelli, per Hodson.

With just one goal and zero assists in seven appearances for Liverpool this season, recorded by WhoScored.com, this assertion couldn't be more true. Balotelli spends copious amounts of time gaining possession outside the box before unleashing long-ranged strikes at goal, highlighted by Squawka after Liverpool's loss to Basel:

He averages an incredible 4.6 shots every game, more than any other player in the Premier League, per WhoScored.com's stats.

Interestingly, Balotelli's average dribble completion rate of zero each match highlights a player who is willing to plant his feet when the ball is received. This goes against Rodgers' philosophy—fast-paced, energetic, attacking football—and leaves the Reds short on numbers when heading into the opposition's box.

Liverpool specialist Paul Machin believes Balotelli is always going to find it difficult to replicate the success of previous Reds hero Luis Suarez, as told to B/R UK's Ryan Bailey:

Despite his poor start, the player has been surprised by the quality on offer at Liverpool. He called his team-mates "amazing" in Hodson's interview and revealed, "I knew they were a very good team, but I didn't know they were as good as they are."

Balotelli also suggested "it's good to see young English players" such as Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana playing a key role in recent matches. In particular, he focused on the influence of Gerrard, a player whose dominance already has Balotelli outlining him as an "amazing player." The forward elaborated, per Hodson:

"

I had really not seen much of him before this season, apart from for England, but wow. I think of him as being at the same level as Pirlo. Vision, technique, but he is powerful as well. Stevie can do anything. It's going to be very difficult for the team to find another player like him in the future.

"

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Having played with both Pirlo and Gerrard, it's interesting Balotelli decided to compare the two. In his prime, Gerrard was a gut-busting midfielder who drove his side forward with powerful runs. He has always been able to play an incisive pass or whip home a match-winning free-kick, but the pitfalls of age have evolved his game into a more thoughtful style.

Pirlo's world-renowned ability to dictate play through a range of passing and ball retention continues to aid Juventus' quest for silverware. He is naturally a more technical player than Gerrard, but now that the latter is 34, their output has become similar. While Pirlo utilises expert positioning and vision to overcome his lack of physical attributes, Gerrard is still likely to launch a crushing tackle when needed.

Balotelli is surrounded by individuals he can learn from. Both Rodgers and Gerrard are disciplined professionals who do everything they can to maximise the team's chances of winning. They consider their actions.

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Right now, Balotelli can be accused of looking for instant glory every time he receives the ball instead of focusing on the bigger picture. While a 25-yard attempt on goal gets fans excited for a second, playing the correct pass and heading into the box to score will likely reap greater benefits.

He will ultimately be judged on goals scored, there is no doubt about it. Rodgers took a risk when signing Balotelli and is expecting a return. The player's early assessment of his time in Liverpool—as well as his obvious respect toward those who are trying to nurture him—suggests the player shouldn't be dismissed as a lost cause just yet.