Arsenal hero Paul Merson feels Mario Balotelli can still make it at Liverpool.

Merson wrote in the Daily Star: "Those who say he should be sold in January are wrong. I know he's just been banned for being stupid on social media, but I still think it will happen for him there.

"Liverpool need him, and he'll be badly missed against Arsenal tomorrow.

"I would have picked him over Rickie Lambert all day long, and I'll tell you why. He has pace and he has something about him, for all his faults.

"Liverpool played with Raheem Sterling up front against Bournemouth. But they need a target man who can hold the ball up against Arsenal.

"Balotelli can do that and he can also hurt you with his pace. He can beat his defender and get a shot away. They will miss that tomorrow.

"Call me crazy but I still think he's a good player. He gets a lot of stick and some of it rightly so. But it seems to be his fault every time Liverpool lose at the moment."