Former Liverpool Manager Roy Evans: Mario Balotelli Has Negative Impact on Squad

Former Liverpool manager Roy Evans has said striker Mario Balotelli has "negative impact" on the Reds' squad.

The Italian international arrived at Anfield on a £16m deal from AC Milan in August. Since his move to the Merseyside club, the former Manchester City man has scored only once for Brendan Rodgers' side in all competitions.

"He has a way about him on the pitch that doesn't exactly endear himself to everybody. [Luis] Suarez was the opposite. He could light the game up and he could bring everybody along with him and they would put the same effort in as Suarez did," Evans told talkSPORT.

"His [Balotelli's] style of play and the way he lumbers through a game, maybe that is catching."

The Anfield club suffered a 1-0 defeat against FC Basel in Switzerland. Evans, who managed Liverpool from 1994 to 1998, says his former club lacked imagination during their midweek Champions League clash.

The 65-year-old has warned Rodgers and Liverpool that failing to bounce back from their poor form could see them end the season in disappointment.

"Liverpool just didn't perform on the day. They lacked imagination. They usually start the game with a high tempo and put teams under pressure, but there was none of that," the former Liverpool manager said.

"They created chances, but didn't look in any sort of shape to put them away. The worry was the attitude last night."

"Normally, they are really on top of the game and they put teams under pressure, but it was as if they were looking at each other last night saying, 'well, come on, who is going to get it going?'"

"It just didn't happen for them and you have got to make it happen. They have put themselves in a dangerous position now in that group."

"It is not just about last night's game. It has been the same for more or less all season, except maybe for the Tottenham game and the Everton game at the weekend. They have got to improve somewhere or it is going to be a poor season for them," Evans concluded.