Liverpool vs Real Madrid: Brendan Rodgers Vows to Deal with Mario Balotelli over Shirt Swap with Pepe

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that he will deal with Mario Balotelli after the striker was seen exchanging his jersey with Real Madrid defender Pepe at half-time.

The reigning European Champions dismantled the Reds with a clinical first-half performance and were leading 3-0 going into the break and went on to win the game by the same margin.

Balotelli, who was given the nod to start despite calls for him to be dropped, failed to live up to expectations as he had a poor game and was substituted at half-time but not before swapping shirts with the Real defender.

This act has enraged a certain section of the fans and the manager was not aware of this until he was told by the media. However, the Northern Irishman has vowed to deal with it and has made it clear that it is something he does not accept.

"That's the first I've heard (about Balotelli swapping his shirt) and I wouldn't like it either. It shouldn't happen and if that's the case, I'll deal with it," Rodgers said, as quoted by Goal.

"It's not something I stand for and it's something I deal with internally."

"It's something that I don't like to see. I've seen it happen in other leagues and in other countries but it's certainly something that doesn't happen here and shouldn't happen. We had an incident here with a player which I dealt with and if that's the case then I'll deal with that as well," the Reds boss added.

The former Swansea City boss brought on Adam Lallana in place of Balotelli in the second half and deployed Raheem Sterling in a more central role. The manager insists that the change was a tactical one, as he was looking for more movement on the pitch.

"I thought we needed more movement centrally, I thought Raheem could give us that, and Adam came on and did very well."

The 41-year-old manager also praised the young English winger for giving it his all despite playing in a position that he has never played in before.

"In fairness to Raheem he was playing in a position alien to him but he worked hard and did what could be asked of him," Rodgers concluded.