Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has questioned whether Mario Balotelli's standard is good enough for the club.
Balotelli has become something of a scapegoat for the Reds' problems on the pitch.
"The Mario Balotelli show is no different to me. He is treated like any other player," Rodgers said.
"We have an image of a team here, of how we play and work and how we represent the club.
"I like players that are different. I like individual personality in people with hair and coloured boots but as long as they don't see themselves as an individual that is what is important.
"They have to fit into the parameters of the team and if those players over the longer term don't it can be difficult for them to work here.
"But in terms of that he is genuinely working hard and doing his best at Liverpool.
"Longer term we will see how that works out for him but he is trying hard on the training field to improve his opportunities to score goals.
"As long as he is doing his best that is all I can ask as a coach: whether that best is going to be good enough that remains to be seen - but that is the same for every player not just Mario."
