Mario Balotelli: Liverpool striker spars with professional kick-boxer on train - watch

His feared opponent has a pro record of 77 wins from 82 fights

The kick-boxer Giorgio Petrosyan posted this picture with Mario Balotelli to his Instagram account (http://instagram.com/giorgiopetrosyan)

Have you ever wondered what Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli does on a train journey?

He spars with a professional kick-boxer of course.

Balotelli uploaded this video to his Instagram account over the weekend, of him sparring with Giorgio Petrosyan, the Armenian-Italian kick-boxer with a record of 77 wins from 82 fights.

The video was uploaded the day after Valentine's Day, the previous day Liverpool defeated Crystal Palace 2-1 in an FA Cup fifth-round tie at Selhurst Park, but for Balotelli it was more of glovely weekend than a lovely one it seems.

WATCH: BALOTELLI SPARS ON A TRAIN

Balotelli came on for the second half in the win at Palace, and inspired the Reds to victory as they fought back from 1-0 down thanks to goals from Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers spoke about Balotelli after the game: "He's been working really hard in training. I think now the penny has dropped.

"I assess players every day in training. No matter how good they are, it doesn't matter - you have to put the work in.

"It has been difficult for him because he's coming into a [playing] style that he's perhaps never been in before in terms of the intensity and the pressing.

"But one thing he has got, he's got big quality. In the last couple of games he's come off the bench and been effective for us."