Liverpool won 1-0 against Besiktas last night, thanks to a Mario Balotelli penalty, but the Italian was once again central to more ‘controversy’- though a lot has been made of what is, seemingly, nothing.
Jordan Henderson saw the ball snatched off him by Balotelli, who also upset Daniel Sturridge by doing so, but the Italian dispatched the spot-kick to give the Reds a narrow victory. That should have been that- but it’s dragged on since.
Steven Gerrard later criticised Balotelli for taking the penalty and a big social media eruption occurred, with the majority of fans quite pleased that the Italian took, and scored, the penalty kick.
Pressure pen late in a big European game you want your best man on it. Balotelli was that man!
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) February 19, 2015
Gerrard on Balotelli in August: “The manager’s told me if I’m not on the pitch, he’ll take the penalties.”
— LFC Fans Corner (@LFCFansCorner) February 20, 2015
Balotelli’s life, eh… Poor lad kept his nerve and scored the winning goal from the spot, but still getting stick, even from the captain.
— Sán (@Zizouology) February 20, 2015
If Balotelli starts coming good, I’m going to be so annoyed at you lot for doing to him exactly what you did to Sakho and not learning.
— PhantomGoal (@PhantomGoal) February 20, 2015
It was right that Balotelli took it as he’s a proven penalty taker. Should have been established before KO that if he was on he’d take one.
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) February 20, 2015
Balotelli is brilliant at penalties so should take them when on the pitch also he scored so I dunno why some people seem quite angry. End.
— James Dall (@JamesDallESPN) February 19, 2015
Can’t see how that’s remotely helpful from Gerrard. Balotelli is class at penalties anyway.
— Jacob Steinberg (@JacobSteinberg) February 19, 2015
Balotelli has missed only 2 of his 29 penalties. Why on earth is Henderson ahead of him in the pen pecking order? Balo was right to take it.
— Transfer news (@TrustyTransfers) February 19, 2015
