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Cape Town - Mario Balotelli admits that he needs to improve if Liverpool are going to challenge for the Premier League title.
The Italian international has not enjoyed a good run of form at Anfield, scoring just one goal for Liverpool in eight appearances since leaving AC Milan. The forward was also left out of the Antonio’s Conte’s Italian squad for the recent Euro 2016 qualifiers.
But a resolute Balotelli believes he can inspire the club to finish in the top four by the end of the season.
"No one is in this competition to try and lose it, everybody plays to win, and I think Chelsea and Man City are the teams we need to aim for,” the 24-year-old told talkSPORT.
"We have to give our best, and whatever happens will happen, but I hope we can come very close to the Premier League title. I can see already that the Liverpool fans really like me, although I know that maybe they are a little upset because I don't score. I see they appreciate that I am working hard, though, which is nice for me.
"I know I have one goal in the Champions League, but in the Premier League I have to start with one. After that, I might set myself a target, but I swear, right now my first league goal is my first and only objective.
"I need to get in the box more. All the rumours I hear about that...these ones are true. I don't do it enough, but it is something I am working to try to do more. I have never been a real, out-and-out striker. I have always been someone who goes around the pitch, you know?"
Balotelli also admitted that he did not know much about Liverpool before he signed his contract, but that he has been impressed with the high standard of training and backs his new team-mates to take the club to many more titles.
"I didn't really know much about the club before coming here, but I've been really surprised," he added.
"I knew they were a very good team, but I didn't know they were as good as they are. Of course we need to improve many things because we have started off not very good, but I think the players here are amazing.
"It's good to see young English players here too: [Raheem] Sterling, [Jordan] Henderson, [Adam] Lallana. I think the more players you have like this, the better. Maybe over time you have got used to not seeing so many good young English players like that, but now we are seeing some. It's good that they are in my team."
The Italian international has not enjoyed a good run of form at Anfield, scoring just one goal for Liverpool in eight appearances since leaving AC Milan. The forward was also left out of the Antonio’s Conte’s Italian squad for the recent Euro 2016 qualifiers.
But a resolute Balotelli believes he can inspire the club to finish in the top four by the end of the season.
"No one is in this competition to try and lose it, everybody plays to win, and I think Chelsea and Man City are the teams we need to aim for,” the 24-year-old told talkSPORT.
"We have to give our best, and whatever happens will happen, but I hope we can come very close to the Premier League title. I can see already that the Liverpool fans really like me, although I know that maybe they are a little upset because I don't score. I see they appreciate that I am working hard, though, which is nice for me.
"I know I have one goal in the Champions League, but in the Premier League I have to start with one. After that, I might set myself a target, but I swear, right now my first league goal is my first and only objective.
"I need to get in the box more. All the rumours I hear about that...these ones are true. I don't do it enough, but it is something I am working to try to do more. I have never been a real, out-and-out striker. I have always been someone who goes around the pitch, you know?"
Balotelli also admitted that he did not know much about Liverpool before he signed his contract, but that he has been impressed with the high standard of training and backs his new team-mates to take the club to many more titles.
"I didn't really know much about the club before coming here, but I've been really surprised," he added.
"I knew they were a very good team, but I didn't know they were as good as they are. Of course we need to improve many things because we have started off not very good, but I think the players here are amazing.
"It's good to see young English players here too: [Raheem] Sterling, [Jordan] Henderson, [Adam] Lallana. I think the more players you have like this, the better. Maybe over time you have got used to not seeing so many good young English players like that, but now we are seeing some. It's good that they are in my team."
