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After impressing in training, Mario Balotelli is line for Liverpool debut against Tottenham

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FILE- In this file photo dated Tuesday, June 24, 2014, Italy\'s Mario Balotelli, right, kicks the ball over Uruguay\'s Martin Caceres during the group D World Cup soccer match between Italy and Uruguay at the Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil. England\'s Liverpool soccer club announced Monday Aug. 25, 2014, it has completed the signing of Italy striker Mario Balotelli from AC Milan. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan, FILE)

LIVERPOOL, England – Mario Balotelli is in line to make his Liverpool debut against Tottenham on Sunday after impressing manager Brendan Rodgers in the Italy striker’s first practice sessions with his new club.

Rodgers says Balotelli “has settled in very well and has looked fantastic in training. . He is engrossing himself into the club and the people, but more importantly into his football.”

Balotelli joined Liverpool from AC Milan for 16 million pounds ($26.5 million) on Monday, with Rodgers replacing one maverick striker in Luis Suarez with another.

Known as much for his controversies as his goals, Balotelli is arousing excitement among Liverpool fans but Rodgers says “this isn’t the Mario Balotelli show. He is a good player, a talented player, but he has got a lot of work to do here.”

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