Mario Balotelli

[Fulham Broadway 16,917]

Think he'll settle down and mature at some point, just hope its not yet. Touted around like Anelka was- nice 10% each time for the agent Raiola as well

[kellzfresh 7,229]

A decent signing for Pool must say, a Sturridge, Balotelli strike force is a massive upgrade on what they have now.

It's a massive upgrade for them. If Rodgers can control his attitude like he did with Suarez, they will start with

marquinlo lovren skrtel Moreno

Henderson Gerrard coutinho

Sterling

Sturridge balloteli

Bench: lallana, lambert, markovic, Allen, agger Johnson.

Their bench is now far stronger than last season. They won't get 84points again like last season but, 78points is a huge possibility.

[The Skipper 20,593]

It's a massive upgrade for them. If Rodgers can control his attitude like he did with Suarez, they will start with

marquinlo lovren skrtel Moreno

Henderson Gerrard coutinho

Sterling

Sturridge balloteli

Bench: lallana, lambert, markovic, Allen, agger Johnson.

Their bench is now far stronger than last season. They won't get 84points again like last season but, 78points is a huge possibility.

If they still had Suarez in their squad I'd be very optimistic about my title chances if I were a Liverpool fan, thankfully they don't. They've improved their defence, they've added some very nice squad players to the team as well... Thank goodness they don't have Suarez because their team depth has improved very nicely.

[Las7 951]

I think Liverpool should be happy if they qualify for the CL. They have a larger squad than last season but also they are going to take part in the CL and they won't be seeded very highly so there is going to be a lot of tough matches for them in the Group Stages.

I don't think they will end up challenging for the title the way they did last season unless they massively improve their defense.

[Korea 734]

SO, why did Chelsea FC not go for mario in that price range?

[Pizy 18,415]

So they payed £26m for Lallana to be a squad player?

[Las7 951]

SO, why did Chelsea FC not go for mario in that price range?

It's a decent price but we've got Costa who is first choice and we don't play with two strikers.

Besides I don't think Mario has the type of character Jose looks for in a striker(too lazy).

[cadenza666 221]

SO, why did Chelsea FC not go for mario in that price range?

known issues with damaging squad harmony. and even with Mourinho, dont want that negativeness in our dressing room. thankfully we passed.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Great signing at that price. He's been around for a while so it's easy to forget he's just 24 years old. Liverpool still aren't title contenders, but it's a great pickup.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Wrong signing for them. Why would any manager want someone like him in his dressing room?

[Korea 734]

AC Milan homepage is not working.

Must be a ton of angry milan fans

[Kieran. 6,317]

People snickering at a balotelli - sturridge partnership? Get a grip, Torres and Drogba are our backup strikers.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Shame he's returning to the PL, every single thing he does will be a big deal in the media.

So they payed £26m for Lallana to be a squad player?

I'm guessing they will rotate between their hybrid 4-4-2 and 4-3-3.

[Korea 734]

You would think Juve would of gave them a better offer and allowed Mario to stay in italy.

Juve with their shit CFs.

[DYC. 7,542]

If they still had Suarez in their squad I'd be very optimistic about my title chances if I were a Liverpool fan, thankfully they don't. They've improved their defence, they've added some very nice squad players to the team as well... Thank goodness they don't have Suarez because their team depth has improved very nicely.

Have they really improved their defence? Lovren's a good player but he seems more like Cahill level player to me. Solid but doesn't really make you stronger. And he doesn't compliment Skrtell all that well. And then they have those two young fullbacks. Experience is key in defence so I have serious doubts about those youngsters. Not to mention it's their first year at Pool and in the PL. Debut year for Lovren as well.

Their team doesn't impress me. They have Sturridge and top talents in Coutinho and Sterling but that's pretty much it.

They did a great job last year but they overachieved. Well, that's the way I see it. They would do extremely well to finish 4th.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Shame he's returning to the PL, every single thing he does will be a big deal in the media

At least he'll take the attention away from costa as the bad boy of the league

[The only place to be 11,313]

Great signing at that price. He's been around for a while so it's easy to forget he's just 24 years old. Liverpool still aren't title contenders, but it's a great pickup.

The reason he seems older is probably because top teams keep flogging him.

Part of me wonders why top teams who need a striker (us, Arsenal) aren't in for him.

[The Skipper 20,593]

Have they really improved their defence? Lovren's a good player but he seems more like Cahill level player to me. Solid but doesn't really make you stronger. And he doesn't compliment Skrtell all that well. And then they have those two young fullbacks. Experience is key in defence so I have serious doubts about those youngsters. Not to mention it's their first year at Pool and in the PL. Debut year for Lovren as well.

Their team doesn't impress me. They have Sturridge and top talents in Coutinho and Sterling but that's pretty much it.

They did a great job last year but they overachieved. Well, that's the way I see it. They would do extremely well to finish 4th.

I really rate Lovren and Moreno is a massive improvement on whoever else was left back there. Maybe he's not an ideal fit for Skrtel but a Sakho - Lovren partnership is very interesting IMO. Dejan could possibly bring the best out of Sakho, he's a very good leader at the back.

Manquillo is an unknown quantity at the moment so I'd probably start Glen. Johnson - Sahko - Lovren - Moreno is a massive improvement on whatever they had last year. If they wrap the Balotelli deal up they're making top 4 for me definitely, if they have a good season maybe even 3rd.

Mignolet

Johnson - Sahko - Lovren - Moreno

Gerrard - Henderson

Sterling - Sturridge - Coutinho

Balotelli

This looks like a top 4 XI IMO. I'm not saying they'll challenge for the title but their team has improved in general (minus Suarez), especially depth wise.