Mario is different - Rodgers

Balotelli joined the Reds in the summer from AC Milan to fill the void left by the departing Suarez, who joined La Liga side Barcelona in July.

The Uruguay striker scored 31 times for Liverpool last season, and there have been doubts as to whether the former Manchester City striker will be an adequate replacement.

Having found the net just once in five appearances for the Merseyside club, Rodgers believes that Balotelli needs time to show his true capabilities.

Asked if the Italian was the right man to replace Suarez, the Reds boss said: "We shall see.

There is no comparison between the two as players. Luis was brilliant for me in his time here and developed to become a player who consistently delivered in terms of scoring and creating.

"Mario is different. He's got a lot of experience for 24, he has come here as an established international."

Rodgers believes that Balotelli needs to fulfil his ‘world class’ potential by maintaining a consistent level of performance.

"Suarez elevated himself, that was clear," he added.

"He wasn't world class when he came in but when he left to go to Barcelona he had put himself in that bracket.

"He did that because of his consistency in scoring goals and keeping his performance level high.

"World class is about being at the highest level consistently, being at that level in your game consistently. That's what takes you there,” he added.

"I think Mario is potentially world class. You can't compare Suarez and him, but Mario is coming in as an international striker and he's a talent, no doubt."