Liverpool legend John Aldridge feels some teammates are hiding behind Mario Balotelli's huge profile. Aldridge wrote in the Sunday World: "Balotelli is the obvious scapegoat to target as Liverpool's season went from bad to worse with another defeat, but there are plenty of big names in Brendan Rodgers team who are not contributing.
"Plenty of Liverpool players didn't offer much to the cause yesterday and I just cannot believe how quickly the mood has changed around the club after the wonderfully exciting ride we enjoyed last season.
"It seems to me that some of the players are happy to hide behind the theory that everything is Balotelli's fault and as long as Brendan leaves him in the team as the lead striker that will be the case.
"I have said time and again here that Balotelli cannot play the lone striker's role and he proved as much again yesterday. He just doesn't get into the box enough to make a success of that position and Brendan has to see that.
"Whether Rickie Lambert (above) is the answer or Fabio Borini gets a go until Daniel Sturridge comes back, I don't know, but Liverpool cannot continue playing with Balotelli as the lone striker."
