A Mario Balotelli injury sustained on international duty with Italy prevented the 24 year-old from making a first Azzurri appearance since the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but the Liverpool star should be fit to face Crystal Palace this weekend.
The Liverpool Echo reports that although Balotelli was sent home without the chance to impress Italy boss Antonio Conte, his hamstring problem is only a minor issue, and he should have no difficulty playing his part at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
The Reds will also be boosted by the return of Daniel Sturridge, who has been missing since the previous international break with a thigh complaint, and will provide some much needed firepower up front.
Brendan Rodgers hasn’t had much of a chance to play Sturridge and Balotelli alongside each other due to the former’s fitness troubles this season, but while Balotelli is a very different player to Luis Suarez, there were some encouraging signs in the few minutes they were on the pitch together that it could work.
The fact that our strikers haven’t been finding the back of the net has been done to death in the media recently, but with Sturridge and Balotelli fit, we should be able to rise up the table.