Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard is full of praise for striker Mario Balotelli.
Gerrard insists he just needs time to hit his goalscoring straps.
"To be a main striker at Liverpool you have to expect the pressure and the responsibility and embrace it," Gerrard told the Daily Mail. "Our fans have seen so many quality forwards over the years they expect new ones to be quality in every game. Above everything else you will have to score goals and score them regularly.
"Look at the ones I have played with - Fowler, Owen, Suarez, Torres. They have always been consistent with goals and that's what has made them the superstars they are. You have to respect Jamie's (Redknapp) opinion. He knows football but it's too early to get on Mario's back.
"He just needs time to score the goals he needs to prove to people he is worthy of staying here. I am not gonna judge him after 10 games. To come in after Suarez was always going to be a big ask and he's not feeling sorry for himself. He is working hard, doing extra shooting sessions.
"I've actually been impressed the way he goes about his work. You hear all kinds of stories and rumours before you meet him, but he does all the work. I like the guy.
"Yes, it seems he likes the attention, he likes being the main man up front. He loves the social media and loves talking to supporters and if he wants that at Liverpool you have to score goals. He will know that. And if he didn't know it coming in then he will know it now."
