Brendan Rodgers asks Mario Balotelli to 'prove his worth' to the club

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has asked striker Mario Balotelli to 'prove his worth' or risk facing exit from the club.

Rodgers said that Balotelli is working hard to try to fit into the team ethos, but added that only time will tell as to whether he can survive at the club, The Guardian reported.

The misfiring Italian striker was hauled off at half-time in the Champions League game against Real Madrid on Thursday, and even earned fan wrath by swapping shirts with Pepe as he made his way down the tunnel.

Former Liverpool skipper Graeme Souness, working as a Sky Sports pundit on the night, questioned the player's intelligence and suggested Rodgers would end up spending all his time defending Balotelli.

Souness said that it was a very brave move to take Balotelli, considering his previous run ins with managers, which include Roberto Mancini, Cesare Prandelli and Jose Mourinho.

He added that despite Balotelli's powerful presence, he is surprised at the striker not having 'a football brain', and called for a 'personality change' in the Italian.

Balotelli has been disciplined internally for the shirt exchange, which has clearly upset Rodgers.

Rodgers said that Balotelli is certainly not 'uncontrollable', adding that he takes responsibility for every player he brings in.

He concluded by saying that it was 'a calculated risk' to bring Balotelli in.