Football
Mike Whalley 9y

Brendan Rodgers waiting on Mario Balotelli fitness ahead of FA Cup tie

LIVERPOOL -- Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli faces a fitness test that will decide whether he will be considered for Wednesday's FA Cup quarterfinal replay at Blackburn.

Balotelli withdrew himself from the squad for Saturday's 4-1 Premier League defeat at Arsenal because of a knee problem.

Manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed after that game that the Italy international "deemed himself not able to travel" for the game at Emirates Stadium after being assessed by club medical staff.

"We'll see how Mario is this morning," Rodgers said on Monday, ahead of the Blackburn game.

Balotelli would have been unlikely to start at Ewood Park even if fully fit, having been confined almost exclusively to substitute duty over the last five months.

The striker has failed to make a significant impact since arriving on Merseyside from AC Milan in a £16 million deal last August.

Even though he signed a three-year contract on joining the club, it has been reported Balotelli will be sold at the end of the season.

The 24-year-old has started just one game for Liverpool since Nov. 8 -- a Europa League defeat against Besiktas in Turkey on Feb. 26.

Daniel Sturridge, who played as a second-half substitute at Arsenal, two weeks after tearing a thigh muscle in a defeat against Manchester United, is a contender to start, although Raheem Sterling can also play as a centre-forward if required.

Rodgers will be without three suspended players for the trip to Ewood Park -- captain Steven Gerrard, centre-back Martin Skrtel and versatile defensive midfielder Emre Can.

But despite the setback of two successive league defeats, the manager feels that the season can be salvaged with FA Cup progress.

Rodgers has not won a trophy since arriving at Liverpool in 2012, and is keen to bring the FA Cup to Anfield for the first time since 2006.

He said: "It's going to be difficult for us to qualify for the Champions League if the teams above us don't drop points.

"We would have to win our seven league games, but we will try to do that. We want to win every single game we play.

"In terms of the FA Cup, that was always an objective. We made it a real objective this season to do well in the cups. This is an opportunity to get to another semifinal.

"The group's very committed to winning this trophy, but in order to do that, you've got to qualify, and we know Blackburn will be a difficult game for us. Then we can look towards the league and look to finish the season strongly."

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