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Claude Paris

Mario Balotelli's French revolution shows no sign of ending anytime soon

The former Liverpool flop has rediscovered his goalscoring as his club sit at the top of the league.

MARIO BALOTELLI TOOK his tally for the season into double figures as his Nice team got the better of Dijon to extend their lead at the top of the French standings to four points โ€“ albeit provisionally.

The volatile and controversial Italian has rediscovered his form since arriving in Ligue 1 and his brace proved the difference.

It was his third double of the domestic campaign, bringing him to eight for the season in eight appearances โ€“ a strike rate of a goal every 77 minutes.

Heโ€™s also found the net in the Europa League and Coupe de la Ligue.

The run of form puts Balotelli in good company. Only Zlatan Ibrahimovic had more Ligue 1 goals after his first eight games.

The last time the club won the domestic championship was in 1959 but they could still be on top once the Christmas break rolls around.

Midweek, theyโ€™re away to Bordeaux and Ligue 1 wonโ€™t return again until 13 January.

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    Mute Darren McNamara
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    Oct 25th 2015, 9:36 AM

    Dead right. hopefully a win today now to give him and the players a little boost.

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    Mute SportLover
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    Oct 25th 2015, 9:55 AM

    Looking forward to seeing what he does with the team over the next few transfer windows. Itโ€™s obvious he takes no sh!t from anyone, players or owners. Hoping he gets rid of the rot in the club asap.

    59
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    Mute Dub Cell
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    Oct 25th 2015, 10:03 AM

    Heโ€™ll need about โ‚ฌ350 million if he gets rid of all the rot in that squad

    39
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    Mute SportLover
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    Oct 25th 2015, 10:09 AM

    The owners gave so much to Rodgers and his transfer committee, and they squandered the lot, apart from a handful of players who have either made a positive impact or look like they have a bit of potential. Canโ€™t see why Klopp wonโ€™t be given the same financial support. If heโ€™s allowed buy the players he wants, that will buy into his philosophy, I can see Liverpool improving vastly. First thing though is to sell those who either wonโ€™t or canโ€™t play his kind of football.

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    Mute Ron Koeman
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    Oct 25th 2015, 10:31 AM

    Considering the players he lost Rodgers was given peanuts. He was only given 17 milion on top of what they got for Suarez after he left. You canโ€™t compete for the league Iโ€™d your net spend is just 17 million.

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    Mute SportLover
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    Oct 25th 2015, 11:07 AM

    @Ron, he still nearly spent ยฃ300 million over three years. Three years with not one trophy to show for it all. Rodgers came out and said that Spurs should be challenging for the title after spending ยฃ100 million. Most of that ยฃ100 million came from the sale of Bale. Iโ€™m a Liverpool fan like yourself, but that is embarrassing.

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    Mute Paul Dunne
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    Oct 25th 2015, 12:37 PM

    philosophy score more than the opposition.

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    Mute Paul Dunne
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    Oct 25th 2015, 12:38 PM

    ah come on ron stop that oul guff he spent a couple of hundred million.

    13
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    Mute Notthatguy
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    Oct 25th 2015, 1:44 PM

    Cutting the waste is more important than bringing in new players right now. Liverpool will go backwards before going forward.

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    Mute Declan Gill
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    Oct 25th 2015, 9:53 AM

    I have to admit I like this bainisteoirs philosophy and the sort of staccato German-English soundbites are altogether more succinct than the usual waffle

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    Mute Beano
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    Oct 25th 2015, 10:06 AM

    First job is to buy a brand new back 4 and goalie

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    Mute SportLover
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    Oct 25th 2015, 10:13 AM

    @Beano I donโ€™t think Mignolet has been that bad lately. His distribution is poor but heโ€™s made a few quality saves. Back four is the problem. A centre back should be his first purchase.

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    Mute clive lumley
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    Oct 25th 2015, 10:13 AM

    He will need time and canโ€™t be judged until we see what moves are made in and out of the club in the transfer market. Problem is there are a lot of average players there now and to get the quality needed to attract better players champions league football is needed. So then he could be relying on the current squad to get into the top four or three as it might be. Some of Rodgers players like firminho, origi, lallana etc. etc needed to deliver something and really he needs to pray that sturridge gets fit again otherwise he is a luxury that the club canโ€™t afford.

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    Mute SportLover
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    Oct 25th 2015, 10:57 AM

    I actually think that Sturridge wonโ€™t be able to cope with Kloppโ€™s demands. Heโ€™s made out of glass, every time he comes back from an injury, he immediately is ruled out again. Iโ€™m beginning to wonder if heโ€™ll be able to keep up the tempo and the pressure. Hope he proves me wrong but if he canโ€™t, I donโ€™t think Klopp will stick with him.

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    Mute John Reese
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    Oct 25th 2015, 10:42 AM

    Itโ€™s clear looking at that Liverpool squad how bad it is. Much work for Jurgen to do

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    Mute Lee Owens
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    Oct 25th 2015, 3:56 PM

    thats Baloteli gone for good so

    4
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