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Premier League: Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli urged to avoid bust-ups after Swansea incident

Liverpool's Italian forward Mario Balotelli (L) reacts holding his face after a confrontation with Swansea City's English midfielder Jonjo Shelvey
Image: Balotelli: Confrontation with Shelvey on Tuesday

Former Aston Villa striker Alan McInally has urged Mario Balotelli to avoid bust-ups on the pitch and focus his efforts on scoring goals for Liverpool.

The Italian became embroiled in a heated row with Swansea's Jonjo Shelvey in the latter stages of Liverpool's 2-1 win in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night.

Balotelli had earlier inspired Liverpool's fightback with the first goal after coming on as a substitute and McInally believes the striker has to rise above such arguments on the pitch.

He told The Morning View on Sky Sports News HQ: "He doesn’t need this 'let’s have a fight [mentality]'. He does take the bait too easy.

It comes with the territory as he (Balotelli) is a bit of a maverick, but he needs to do his talking on the pitch.
Kevin Davies

"He’s using a lot of energy he doesn’t need to use - mental energy, looking over your shoulder all the time.

"He is a very talented footballer. He is going to get goaded all the time.

"On Saturday when he starts a game, an [opponent] will be like 'get into Balotelli, make him upset and think about other things' rather than what he’s good at, which is playing football."

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Preston's experienced striker Kevin Davies agrees that opposing defenders will attempt to provoke Balotelli if he cannot keep his composure. 

He said: "You’ve got to rise above it. I’ve played with people like El Hadji Diouf.

"The opposition will say to you, ‘get in his face, and wind him up’.

"He’s not a kid any more, just concentrate on playing.

"It comes with the territory as he’s a bit of a maverick, but he needs to do his talking on the pitch."