BASEL (Reuters) - Mario Balotelli was praised for a hard-working performance against FC Basel by Liverpool coach Brendan Rodgers on Wednesday, even though the maverick Italian striker seemed to spend much of the game on the ground asking for free kicks.
"He went close with a free kick where he had a great shot. He knows his job is to create and score goals, and he's working hard to get into the areas. That's what we're asking of him," Rodgers told reporters after his side's 1-0 Champions League defeat against the Swiss champions. "I think he worked hard. It's obviously his job to create and score goals, and he's working...