Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter for the latest tips and offers Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers revealed today that he has held a conversation with Mario Balotelli after he swapped shirts with Real Madrid defender Pepe before he was taken off at half-time in the 3-0 Champions League defeat last night.
The incident as the players walked the down the tunnel has drawn criticism from Reds' supporters and former players, with Graeme Souness even questioning whether the Italian striker had a "football brain".
"Any action I would take with Mario would be kept within ourselves," Rodgers said today. "Of course, we had a conversation on the culture of this club.
"There's been no reaction to Mario Balotelli's shirt swap from the rest of the squad and speculation is inevitable.
"You have to accept that criticism is part of the game, but the boy [Balotelli] is trying very, very hard. We’ll see how that turns out."
Watch: Balotelli swaps shirts with Pepe at half-time
Show all 22 1 /22Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 player ratings Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 player ratings Liverpool: Simon Mignolet Could do nothing about the first two goals but the third was a defensive mess. Made one very fine save from Cristiano Ronaldo - 6/10
Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 player ratings Glen Johnson If it was not Ronaldo sprinting down Real's left, it was full-back Marcelo, adding up to a difficult night for Johnson, who also allowed Karim Benzema a free header for the second goal - 5
Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 player ratings Martin Skrtel Beaten by the brilliance of Ronaldo for the first goal then outmuscled by Pepe for the third - 5
Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 player ratings Dejan Lovren This was a thoroughly uncomfortable night for the Liverpool defence as a whole, but Lovren fared a little better than his team-mates - 6
Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 player ratings Alberto Moreno An early threat going forward but given a tough time by Real's attacking triumvirate - 5
Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 player ratings Jordan Henderson Worked hard but gave the ball away too often as Real overpowered Liverpool in midfield - 5
Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 player ratings Steven Gerrard Began brightly and tested Iker Casillas with a fine shot in the 11th minute. Thereafter occupied trying to stifle Real's attacking threat - 6
Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 player ratings Joe Allen Had one of Liverpool's better efforts on goal in the first half but outclassed in midfield - 5
Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 player ratings Raheem Sterling Looked Liverpool's most dangerous attacker, with his pace troubling Real, but too often had to try to do the whole lot himself - 6
Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 player ratings Mario Balotelli Retained despite heavy criticism but very ineffective and hauled off at half-time - 4
Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 player ratings Philippe Coutinho Looked bright to start with before fading as Real took over. Hit the post with a fine effort at the end of the first half before being substituted in the second - 5
Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 player ratings Iker Casillas The veteran Spain goalkeeper was making his 143th Champions League appearance, equalling all-time record holder Xavi. His form has been shaky but dealt with the few threats that came his way very capably - 6
Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 player ratings Alvaro Arbeloa The former Liverpool full-back enjoyed a good tussle with Sterling and then Lallana - 6
Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 player ratings Raphael Varane Not too much to worry about for the young French defender - 6
Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 player ratings Pepe Set up the third goal with his persistence and had a comfortable night in defence - 6
Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 player ratings Marcelo A real presence in Real's attack and Liverpool did not manage to exploit the gaps he left - 7
Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 player ratings Isco A fine, energetic performance from the midfielder - 7
Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 player ratings Luka Modric Instrumental in Real's control of the midfield - 8
Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 player ratings Toni Kroos Immaculate in front of the back four and set up Benzema's goal with a fine cross. Booked for fouling Sterling - 8
Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 player ratings James Rodriguez Had to be patched up after an early blow to the head and had done little until his lovely chip set up Ronaldo - 7
Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 player ratings James Rodriguez Two goals for the Frenchman and it might have been more - 8
Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 player ratings Cristiano Ronaldo The former Manchester United man, not surprisingly, was greeted by plenty of boos. He had scored more goals this season than Liverpool's entire team and it took him only 23 minutes to add another sublime strike. A constant threat and substituted with Saturday's Clasico in mind - 8
The Reds are next in action against Hull City in the Premier League on Saturday.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies