Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says striker Mario Balotelli has the potential to become a world class footballer.
The Italian joined the Reds in the summer to replace striker Luis Suarez and Rodgers believes he has all the features required to score goals and deliver high performances on a consistent level.
But Rodgers also says that Balotelli is different than the Uruguay international in terms of experience and expectations.
"There is no comparison between the two as players," Rodgers said during his press conference.
"Luis was brilliant for me in his time here and developed to become a player who consistently delivered in terms of scoring and creating.
"Mario is different. He's got a lot of experience for 24, he has come here as an established international.
"Suarez elevated himself, that was clear.
"He wasn't world class when he came in but when he left to go to Barcelona he had put himself in that bracket.
"He did that because of his consistency in scoring goals and keeping his performance level high.
"World class is about being at the highest level consistently, being at that level in your game consistently. That's what takes you there.
"I think Mario is potentially world class. You can't compare Suarez and him, but Mario is coming in as an international striker and he's a talent, no doubt."
