Rodgers has Balotelli dilemma

London - Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers must decide whether Mario Balotelli's late winning goal against Tottenham in the league as a substitute on Tuesday is enough to earn the Italy striker a return to the starting line-up against Crystal Palace.

Rodgers may not want to start Daniel Sturridge for the second time in five days because the England international has just returned from five months out injured.

With Raheem Sterling nursing a foot injury, the door could be open for a first start for Balotelli since November. Sturridge raised the possibility of starting alongside Balotelli, which happened once, to great effect in a big away win at Tottenham, before his injury.

"I am sure we will strike up a partnership in the future, I have no doubts about that," Sturridge said.