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Mario Balotelli analysis: Is the Liverpool striker really a 'big-game' player?

Brendan Rodgers says the Italian is at his best when he plays the best

Wednesday 22 October 2014 16:23 BST

Mario Balotelli has endured a difficult start to his Liverpool career.

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Now nine games in, the Italian has just one goal to his name, against Champions League minnows Ludogorets.

Since his £16m move from AC Milan he has played six Premier League games and failed to score in all of them. The most recent fixture against QPR offered up numerous chances for him to find the back of the net but he was to remain unsuccessful.

With Daniel Sturridge having missed most of the season and set to miss some more, and the club still reeling from the departure of Luis Suarez to Barcelona, the focus on Balotelli will only intensify.

Already the maverick striker has become the play thing of internet jokers, whilst Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has suggested he be dropped for tonight's Champions League game against Real Madrid.

But is a fixture against the strongest team in Europe actually the best place for Balotelli to kick-start his Liverpool career?

Brendan Rodgers thinks so, claiming that the 24-year-old is at his best on the big occasions.

"He scores big goals in big games. I'm sure he will go into tomorrow, if picked, looking forward," said Rodgers.

"It is just a matter of time before he gets his goals."

Balotelli memorably scored against England at the World Cup and in Manchester City's 6-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2011. But do the statistics show he is consistently better against the best sides?

We've analysed Balotelli's league record since the 2010/11 season (his first at Manchester City) and compared his record against the best teams in to the rest.

QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

Show all 22

1/22QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

QPR: Alex McCarthy

Did a solid job deputising for Rob Green – little he could do about any of Liverpool’s goals. 6/10

QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

Nedum Onuoha

Hardly tested during the first half before going off with an injury. 6

QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

Richard Dunne

At fault for the Reds’ opener – didn’t adjust his feet quickly enough and turned Sterling’s effort into his own goal. 5

QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

Steven Caulker

Scored the match-winning goal… at the wrong end. Unfortunate, having worked hard to keep his side in touch as Liverpool threatened to run away with the game having gone 1-0 up. 5

QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

Yun Suk-Young

Solid performance apart from losing concentration for Liverpool’s opener – defended capably and provided width down the left as QPR dominated the first half – should keep his starting place. 6

QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

Mauricio Isla

A real threat down the right in the first half, forced to move backwards by Onuoha’s withdrawal at half-time. 6

QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

Karl Henry

Bullish performance in the centre of midfield. Bullied his more illustrious opponents at times. 7

QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

Sandro

Influential for 60 minutes before going off injured – his departure coincided with Liverpool taking control of the game. 7

QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

Leroy Fer

Should have given his side the lead in the first half as he twice hit the bar with great chances – aside from that played well. 6

QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

Bobby Zamora

The captain’s physicality was a threat to the Liverpool defence right from the opening moment – laid on chances for Austin and Fer that should have been taken. 8

QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

Charlie Austin

A threat to the Liverpool defence throughout, could have got himself on the score sheet, but did well to set up Vargas’ first. 7

QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

Liverpool: Simon Mignolet

Another shaky performance – made some good saves but looked extremely vulnerable at times. 5/10

QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

Glen Johnson

Looked a little rusty on his return to the starting XI from injury – helped prevent a goal with some last ditch defending in the first half and crossed for Dunne’s own goal. 6

QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

Martin Skrtel

The enforcer of Liverpool’s back four was completely bullied by Zamora and can count himself fortunate (or unfortunate) if he keeps his starting place against Real Madrid on Wednesday. 5

QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

Dejan Lovren

Unable to handle the inspired Zamora until he went off – unconvincing. 5

QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

Jose Enrique

Caused a lot of trouble by Isla in the first half – unable to impact the game going forward. 5

QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

Jordan Henderson

One of few Liverpool players who could be reasonably satisfied with his performance. His mixture of effort and quality helped to keep the Reds in the game as they struggled in the first half. 7

QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

Emre Can

Making his first Premier League start, the German U21 international failed to stamp his authority on the game and was replaced by Joe Allen soon after the hour mark. 5

QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

Raheem Sterling

It wasn’t his finest game, but his decisive impact speaks for itself. Played a part in all of Liverpool’s goals and can now looking forward to taking on Real Madrid on Wednesday. 7

QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

Steven Gerrard

Pushed into a more advanced role in the first half, he was anonymous until almost giving his side the lead just before the break – a bit better when dropping deeper in the second half. 5

QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

Adam Lallana

Gradually working his way back to full fitness, the England man struggled to get involved during the first half but his shot did lead to Balotelli’s big chance. Went off soon after the hour mark. 5

QPR 2 Liverpool 3 player ratings

Mario Balotelli

He didn’t deserve to be on the winning side. Spurned two great opportunities and generally didn’t look after possession very well. 4

To do that, we've looked at Balotelli's goals-per-game ratio against the top-four teams (those that would finish the season in the top-four positions, or five, if Balotelli's side were among the top four) and then every other side.

They show that over the last four seasons - covering Manchester City and AC Milan - Balotelli has a goal-per-game ratio against the top-four sides of 0.42.

Meanwhile, his statistics against the 'lesser' sides are marginally better, with a record of 0.47 goals-per-game.

The full season-by-season break down is below.

The statistics then show that despite claims that Balotelli is a 'big-game' player, that is not backed up by the statistics, with the striker actually performing better against teams of a lower calibre.

A winning goal at Anfield tonight though, and no-one will care about the statistics.

THE STATS...

2010/11

Top four teams...

Manchester United

Chelsea

Arsenal

Tottenham

Record against the top four: 2 games - 0 goals

Against the rest: 15 games - 6 goals

2011/12

Top four teams...

Manchester United

Arsenal

Tottenham

Newcastle

Record against the top four: 5 games - 4 goals

Against the rest: 18 - 9 goals

2012/13 (at Manchester City)

Top four teams...

Manchester United

Chelsea

Arsenal

Tottenham

Record against the top four: 4 games - 0 goals

Against the rest: 10 games - 1 goal

2012/13 (at AC Milan )

Top four teams...

Juventus

Napoli

Fiorentina

Udinese

Record against the top four: 2 games - 2 goals

Against the rest: 11 games - 10 goals

2013/14 season

Top four teams...

Juventus

Roma

Napoli

Fiorentina

Record against the top four: 6 games - 2 goals

Against the rest: 24 games - 12 goals

Total against top four sides: 19 games - 8 goals = 0.42 goals per game

Total against the rest: 78 games - 37 = 0.47 goals per game

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