Brendan Rodgers: 'Mario Balotelli not injured'

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed that Mario Balotelli is not currently suffering from an injury.

Balotelli was left out of the squad for this afternoon's Premier League clash with Chelsea, a match that Liverpool have to win to stay in the race for a top-four spot in the Premier League.

Rickie Lambert is once again preferred up front for the Reds, while young striker Jerome Sinclair has been included on the bench ahead of the £16m Italian.

When asked why Balotelli was absent, Rodgers told Sky Sports News: "[He's] just not selected in the squad.

"We've got a young striker in Jerome Sinclair, who's been doing fantastic in our youth and reserve teams. He's scored a lot of goals and this is an opportunity for him to come in. He works tirelessly every day and Mario is just not in the squad."

Balotelli has scored just one league goal in 15 matches for Liverpool since his summer arrival.