Why Mario Balotelli will fill in Luis Suarez's void

Balotelli and Suarez

The goal scoring

The indiscernible story of Liverpool's transfer window has been a guessing game throughout. The question of finding an apt replacement for Suarez has been asked time and again! Liverpool's rumour mill has churned in and out numerous big names and Italian striker Mario Balotelli was one of them. Suarez was undoubtedly the club's finest talent and the driving force behind their commendable 2nd position last season. With the transfer of Balotelli to Liverpool for 16 million pounds raises an obvious question.

The question is, would he be a good fit for Liverpool as they look to replace the Uruguayan’s pressing influence on the pitch? The first point that springs up in mind when thinking of a replacement is the shocking number of goals he scored last season. The Premier League Player of the Season bagged 31 league goals in just 33 appearances during 2013/14, 10 more than his team-mate Daniel Sturridge.

When compared, the Italian’s score doesn't stack up that well with him scoring 14 goals in 30 Serie A matches. It is however, a healthy score. But the point is that Brendan Rodgers will not just be looking at the goal sheets. The former Ajax man was undoubtedly relentless and supremely talented and the fire in his belly made him a star. Something that Super Mario has no less. Instead he has it in abundance.

Rodgers can tame Mario

Comparing the two would actually lead us no where in lieu of the fact that both are repositories of footballing talent. It all comes down to man management. Some of the finest managers in the business have tried to handle the Milan forward but have unfortunately been failed in their attempts.

Brendan though is different. He has found his own way of bringing out the best of players on the field. The 27-year-old striker couldn't have succeeded the way he did, had he not received the sacred guidance and support of his manager in times of crisis. He has his own formula of refining the players since taking over at Anfield, and while forcing the former Manchester City striker through his paces will be like taming a lion at times. Rodgers undoubtedly holds the whip in his hands though.

The Uruguayan after coming to Liverpool braced up fans all around the world with his footballing talent long after being in hot water. What followed was a season that'll go down in the Premier League history books forever. If the Northern Irishman can have that effect on him there is no reason why can't he do it again. His talent clubbed with the former Swansea manager’s skills can bring the best out of him and with the Italian’s fearless approach in front of goal the results could also be devastating. His 26 goals in Italy since making his debut for AC Milan in 2013 is indeed a remarkable figure.

Super Mario’s game isn’t over

His finishing abilities have been underrated at best. Some journalists after his transfer joked that replacing Suarez is like replacing a toothache with a headache!

However, that's untrue. The fact that the man can score with either foot, his head and even his shoulder is what matters. Having a striker like him will definitely be worth for the Reds.He will be the ideal striker partner to Sturridge and it’s likely that there will be goals showering down once again.

With the team that Liverpool is, the Italian maverick too has a chance to go back to being a footballer, an idol rather than someone who the 'gentlemen' of the game look down upon. Its a chance for him to get back his lost glory. Replacing Suarez is no easy task but if Super Mario adopts the right approach and attitude both on and off field, along with guidance from Rodgers, there will be a time when fans would be asking ''Luis who?''