Roy Evans: 'Mario Balotelli's style of play has negative impact on teammates'

Former Liverpool manager Roy Evans believes that Mario Balotelli's 'lumbering' attitude on the pitch could have a negative effect on his teammates.

The Italy international has scored just once for the Reds following his £16m move from AC Milan in the summer window.

The controversial striker, who replaced Luis Suarez following his move to Barcelona, failed to impress in last night's 1-0 defeat to Basel in their Champions League group match in Switzerland.

"He has a way about him on the pitch that doesn't exactly endear himself to everybody," Evans told talkSPORT.

"Suarez was the opposite. He could light the game up and he could bring everybody along with him and they would put the same effort in as Suarez did.

"[Balotelli's] style of play and the way he lumbers though a game, maybe that is catching."

In the Premier League, Liverpool have lost half of their first six matches.