Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has defended Mario Balotelli's workrate.

The Italian's been heavily criticised for his performances since arriving at Anfield in a £16 million move in August, and was substituted at half time during last night's defeat to Real Madrid.

"The boy's genuinely trying very, very hard. Longer-term we'll see where that works out for him, but certainly he is working hard on the training field," said Rodgers.

He has also now spoken to Balotelli about his act of swapping shirts with Pepe prior to his removal and considers the matter closed.

"It was just a conversation on the culture in this country and particularly at Liverpool and that was it," he said.

Former Liverpool favourite John Barnes also says it is a bit unfair to judge Balotelli after such a short period.

"Balotelli's a good player. But if you come into a team that's - I won't say struggling - not playing to its potential, then you are going to replicate that and won't play to your potential either. So once the team picks up and they get used to each other, I'm sure Balotelli will score goals and start to do much better."