Mario Balotelli proves ill health with Instagram picture

Mario Balotelli has sought to prove that he was too ill to play in Liverpool's 1-0 FA Cup win at Blackburn Rovers by posting a picture of his temperature online.

The Italy striker did not travel to the Emirates for Saturday's 4-1 defeat to Arsenal after ruling himself out, prompting suggestions online that he was feigning injury.

However, the 25-year-old striker has moved to dampen further rumours of his exclusion last night by posting evidence of his ill health on Instagram.

@phil.coutinho magic boy! Grande! Nothing stop me to watch my team winning❤️. ( at least this time you know the real reason why I am out) . MISS THE PICTH SO MUCH 😡... #unluckyseason #YNWA #illbeback

A photo posted by Mario Balotelli🇮🇹🗿👪 (@mb459) on Apr 8, 2015 at 2:20pm PDT

Philippe Coutinho's 70th-minute winner proved enough as the Reds advanced into the semi-finals, where Aston Villa await at Wembley on April 19.