The Italian has yet to score a Premier League goal for the Reds but despite talk of a return to Italy, the misfiring forward is determined to remain at Anfield

Mario Balotelli is “very disappointed” by his start to life at Liverpool, although he has no intention of leaving the club, according to his representative Mino Raiola.

The Italy international moved to Anfield from AC Milan in a €20 million summer deal but has struggled to hit the ground running on Merseyside, with his faltering form in front of goal leading to reports of personal unrest.

Balotelli has yet to score a Premier League goal in 2014-15 – indeed, he has netted just twice in all competitions – and Raiola admits that the striker has been unhappy with the way his Liverpool career has begun, though he insists that the misfiring forward has no desire to move.

The agent told Gazzetta dello Sport: “The plan is to continue at Anfield. I saw him Monday and told him: ‘You have a 4 year contract and I won’t bring you away. Or you leave Liverpool at 60-70 million, and I won my bet, or you’ll die there.’

“It’s the first time I make a speech like that to a player. I’ve seen him quiet, changed, different than Milan.

“Very disappointed with himself, too. He’s going through a bad time like he never had. In Liverpool he hasn’t his spaces: if you don’t make things as they want, you stay out. Then he was broken for eight weeks, he lost the rhythm.”

Balotelli has often been singled out for criticism this season but Raiola claims that the 24-year-old is simply the victim of “injustice” and that he is insecure.

“Of all the players I knew I’ve never met one forced to face the injustices suffered by Mario,” he added. “People do not know him, the truth is that Mario is an insecure boy, and due to his insecurity maybe he does stupid things.

“AC Milan needed a leader. Give the ball to Mario, he scores a goal, everyone is happy. But he is not a leader, and it is also wrong to ask him to be a leder.

“There are very strong players who have no leadership, others less strong but which have leadership.”

The Spain international may miss Saturday’s crunch clash with Premier League title rivals Manchester City after being charged for appearing to stamp on Emre Can

Eden Hazard admits that he is happy he doesn’t have to play against Chelsea team-mate Diego Costa, as the fallout from the striker’s controversial performance against Liverpool continues.

Costa appeared to stamp on Emre Can and Martin Skrtel in separate incidents during Tuesday’s stormy League Cup semi-final second-leg clash with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, but escaped punishment from referee Michael Oliver.

The Football Association (FA) has since charged the Spain international with violent conduct in relation to the Can incident, putting Chelsea at risk of losing their top scorer for Saturday’s crunch clash with Premier League title rivals Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

However, Hazard insists he admires Costa’s commitment on the pitch and believes he is lucky to have him as a team-mate.

“Diego motivates us all,” the Belgian told reporters after Chelsea’s extra-time victory. “When you play with this guy, you have to give everything. You can see in every action and for every ball, he gives his life.

“Even if he does not score, he gives his life. For us, for the players, when you play with him, it’s very good.

“In training he is different. But in games he is very good. He never stops. He had a very good mentality against Liverpool.

“Every team and every player knows Diego now. He got one yellow card. But we need him because he can score every minute, every second of every game.

“I don’t know if I would hate to play against him. I play with him, and I’m happy with that. I’m lucky.”

Chelsea are currently five points clear of nearest rivals City at the top of the Premier League table. 

The Arsenal legend, who began his career as a winger before being converted into a prolific goalscorer by Arsene Wenger, thinks the 20-year-old can make the same transition

“One vs one it’s very difficult to defend against him,” the Frenchman told Sky Sports.

“The only thing I can say that he doesn’t have yet is finishing. He struggles with it sometimes but that will come with time. He has everything you need. He’s good one vs one and he has pace. His movements are sharp.

When asked if Sterling could become an effective striker in the future Henry replied: “Oh yes, he can.”

Sterling is currently in talks with Liverpool over a new long-term contract that will reportedly make him one of the highest earners at Anfield.