Currently sidelined with a groin injury, the Italian has scored just two goals in 14 appearances in all competitions and could face Football Association sanctions

Brendan Rodgers insists Liverpool had no choice but to sign Mario Balotelli as the controversial Italian’s struggles on Merseyside continue.

Liverpool splashed out €20 million to bring Balotelli from AC Milan in the summer as Rodgers re-modelled his attack in the wake of Luis Suarez’s departure to Barcelona, but the 24-year-old’s return to England has been frought with problems.

Just two goals in 14 matches in all competitions have been compounded with a groin injury and a Football Association charge for an Instagram post that allegedly contained anti-Semitic and racist references.

But Rodgers is adamant that the signing of Balotelli made sense at the time, given his undoubted ability and Liverpool’s need for another frontman to provide an alternative to Daniel Sturridge and Rickie Lambert.

“As as a club we felt that buying Mario was the solution at the time,” the Liverpool boss told reporters.

“In the summer, we had Rickie Lambert. Fabio Borini looked 100 per cent that he was leaving, and obviously Daniel Sturridge has shown in his career so far that he gets injuries.

“To go into the season with no-one else would have been very difficult for us. It would have been unfair to leave Rickie Lambert, as a 32-year-old, as the only other striker that we had.

“I felt it was a risk we needed to take with Mario because, as a group, we couldn’t afford not to at that time. It was obviously late on and we needed to have someone in.

“It’s something that we can’t regret now. I made it clear at the beginning it was a calculated risk – and that is why he probably cost the money he did.”

Raheem Sterling saw a penalty shout denied in the latter stages of the game as the Reds failed to record back-to-back home victories

A toothless Liverpool failed to break down Sunderland as the two sides played out a dour goalless draw in the Premier League on Saturday.

Brendan Rodgers’ side came into the clash at Anfield buoyed by back-to-back victories over Stoke City and Leicester City but they fell short of making it three consecutive league wins for the first time this season.

Captain Steven Gerrard, so impressive at Leicester on Tuesday, was back on the Liverpool bench and replaced by Philippe Coutinho.

But the Brazilian failed to provide the creative spark Liverpool so desperately needed, and it was the visitors who arguably had the better of the chances through Wes Brown and Connor Wickham.

For Sunderland, who have never won in the Premier League at Anfield, a point represents an encouraging response following their chastening 4-1 defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday.

Gus Poyet’s side remained solid throughout, with the likes of Coutinho, Adam Lallana and Raheem Sterling unable to provide frontman Rickie Lambert with any clear chances to break the stalemate.

Gerrard was introduced in place of Lallana midway through the second half, but Liverpool’s talisman was unable to inspire his side to find a winner as they were forced to settle for a share of the spoils.

Coutinho for Gerrard was one of two changes for the hosts, with Alberto Moreno coming in for Javi Manquillo in defence.

Poyet promised to freshen things up following the defeat in midweek, and stuck to his word as the team showed five alterations.

The visitors had shouts for a penalty waved away in the third minute when Wickham went down under a challenge from Martin Skrtel.

Goalmouth action was scarce, but Sunderland had the best chance before the break when Brown powered a header over the crossbar from Seb Larsson’s corner on the stroke of half-time.

Liverpool appealed for a penalty in the 51st minute when Moreno’s low cross deflected off John O’Shea and struck Jordi Gomez on the arm, but once again referee Neil Swarbrick was unmoved.

Wickham then flashed a left-footed volley across goal as Sunderland threatened an opener, before Liverpool’s first effort of note arrived in the 64th minute as Lucas Leiva’s strike from distance brought a comfortable save out of Costel Pantilimon.

The Romanian goalkeeper was in action again 12 minutes from time, parrying Coutinho’s drive following a mazy dribble and pass from Sterling.

Gomez stung the palms of Simon Mignolet with a rasping drive three minutes later and although Liverpool enjoyed the majority of possession in the closing stages, Rodgers’ men failed to make the crucial breakthrough.

The teenaged winger’s scorching form last season saw him break into the England squad but, despite the Reds’ poor campaign so far, his manager is thrilled with his progress

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes that young forward Raheem Sterling has taken his game to another level this season.

The England international was instrumental in the Reds’ push for the Premier League title last season but has scored only three goals in the current campaign.

Sterling turns 20 on Monday and Rodgers feels that he has made great strides despite Liverpool’s disappointing season so far.

The Northern Irishman told reporters: “He has taken on extra responsibility, absolutely, and kicked on. I have reiterated to him his qualities and strengths, his pace, skill, his directness – that’s his game,

“I think you have seen him develop into a very good young footballer. He’s not just someone who can run direct with the ball, he can play one-touch, he can play two-touch. He’s such a threat.

“You looked at him the other night [against Leicester] against the boy [Ritchie] De Laet, who is a super-quick player. Raheem’s pace was frightening.

“His runs were very good and at 19, nearly 20, I think he’s shown he has gone to an extra level.”

Much was made of Sterling’s declaration that he was tired before England’s Euro 2016 qualifier in Slovenia in October, which led to him being left on the bench by Roy Hodgson, and Rodgers has stressed the importance of ensuring that his prodigy does not play too many games at such a young age.

When asked if Sterling will need a rest from time to time, Rodgers replied: “There will be a period where we will do that – it was always in the plan.

“Of course there is the short term but you have got to think in the longer term. He’s a kid coming off the back end of a long season where he played a lot of games and then [went] on travelling to a World Cup.

“He’s a young player coming back. I think a lot of the players that were away and coming back; it takes a bit of time to get going again.”