Liverpool captain lashes Balotelli for ‘disrespecting’ Henderson

Mario Balotelli scored Liverpool’s only goal in Thursday night’s UEFA Europa League clash against Besiktas of Turkey at Anfield.

Liverpool were going to end the game at 0-0 before Jordon Ibe was brought down in the six yard area by Ramos and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Stand-in captain Jordan Henderson stepped up to take the spot kick but Balotelli collected the ball from him and thankfully, he scored.

Afterwards, Henderson looked gloomy on ground that he may have been disrespected.

Steven Gerrard accused Balotelli of not paying 24 year-old Englishman, Henderson his due respect as captain.

'Henderson is the captain and Balotelli showed Jordan a bit of disrespect there,' Gerrard said on ITV where he acted as pundit, adding that the former Man City man was "a bit mischievous"

'Rules are rules,' he said. 'Credit to Mario, he's scored, but it's not nice to see when footballers are arguing. I think Jordan has handled the situation very well.'

Boss, Brendan Rodgers did not clarify who should have taken the spot kick.

Former Liverpool captain, Jamie Carragher however, argued that Balotelli was the right man to take the penalty.

‘Pressure pen late in a big European game you want your best man on it. Balotelli was that man!’ he wrote on Twitter, adding: ‘Also just heard it was Henderson supposed to be on them not Sturridge, more reason for Mario to take it!!!’

The conversion was Balotelli's 27th out of 29 kicks. He has scored four goals this season in all competitions for the Reds.