10 Biggest Brendan Rodgers Mistakes As Liverpool Manager

8. Signing Balotelli

Everybody loves Mario Balotelli. How could you not? When the Italian striker was signed for Manchester City, the papers were filled with amazing, hilarious stories of his off-pitch exploits: setting fireworks off in a bathroom (after being appointed spokesman for Bonfire Night safety, no less), handing out bundles of cash whilst dressed as Santa, and so on. So when the news came that Liverpool were signing him after just one season at AC Milan, it meant those funny stories might reappear €“ hooray! Except there's also the side-effect of Balotelli's on-pitch performances, which are more often shot through with bad behaviour and arrogance than the genuine skills he's known to possess. Not only that, but he came with the hefty price tag of £16 million. Liverpool absolutely needed some new up-front talent for the 2014-15 season. They didn't need a player with a history of being banned for multiple games and not respecting authority €“ especially foregoing the instructions of his own gaffer. A significant, depressing waste of money Rodgers should've seen coming.