Rodgers pissed Balotelli off and I can understand why he stopped playing for him. In a Europa League fixture against Besiktas, Balotelli did everything asked of him, got numerous elbows and sly digs and never lashed out or performed once.
However, Balotelli also got no service from midfield for most of the game and was evidently frustrated. Our creativity was shocking that day. I remember Rodgers then taking Balotelli off the pitch as if trying to scapegoat him to protect his favourites. It was this match for me that proved Rodgers needed to go. He couldn't set aside his own ego and clearly had an issue with Balotelli from the off. He didn't even look at Balotelli when he went off and even Emre Can gave Mario a pat on the back. He was wrongly substituted.
The game then went to penalties and Liverpool lost with arguably one of the best penalty takers in Europe off the pitch. Absolutely clueless management.
What was Balotelli supposed to do? If he does wrong he gets subbed and if he does as he's told he gets subbed and treated poorly. Absolutely horrific man management from Rodgers.
The fact is, Balotelli is partly right. Yes he acts out but he is damned if does, and damned if he don't. Rodgers never have him a fair chance. When things went wrong he made Balotelli the fall guy, even if it wasn't his fault. In that same game Sturridge was shocking and Rodgers brought on Manquillo, i think, rather than someone with more creativity. That night was the final straw for me with Rodgers. It's s witch hunt pure and simple.
I really hope Balotelli comes back and under Klopp sticks two fingers up to all his detractors much like Ronaldo did under Ferguson. They called him a diver, too many tricks with no end product, then he grew up, matured, had his attitude channelled by a great manager and well, the rest is history.
Also, the media who highlight his wrongdoings can piss off as well, acting all angelic after hacking the phones of the dead, lying about the dead and proven to be corrupt with little morals time and time again. Everyone makes mistakes.