Brendan Rodgers has excluded Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini and José Enrique from Liverpool’s final pre-season friendlies in another attempt to push them towards the exit door.
All three were omitted from Liverpool’s recent tour of the Far East and Australia as Rodgers looks to trim his squad following the arrival of seven players this summer.
Balotelli (24) was not on the pre-season tour to Thailand, Australia and Malaysia, and neither has he been included in the squads for the friendly games against HJK Helsinki in Finland on Saturday or Swindon Town on Sunday.
Liverpool want £10m for a player who cost them £16m last summer but they accept that they may have to lower their asking price, which is far too high for Bologna, who have expressed an interest.
Critics are saying this is a brutally clear message of exit by boss Brendan Rodgers to the three players.
Rodgers has selected a strong unit to travel to Finland at the weekend, where the Reds will face HJK Helsinki as the final fixture in the club’s pre-season tour.
Philippe Coutinho will return to action, and summer arrivals Nathaniel Clyne, Joe Gomez, Danny Ings, James Milner and Divock Origi will all feature.
Balotelli wasn’t expected to be part of that tour squad after being left at home when the team flew out to Australia for a series of build-up fixtures, but the major surprise came when he was also ignored for a low-key game at Swindon.
Liverpool have elected to give their second string players a run out at the County Ground on Sunday, and Rodgers will also decide whether to give new signings Roberto Firmino and Christian Benteke a first run out.
