The Italian has failed to score in nine Premier League appearances this season and been criticised for a perceived lack of effort, but remains upbeat about his form

Mario Balotelli remains unconcerned by his slow start to life at Liverpool and insists he will re-find his goalscoring touch.

The Italian moved to Anfield from Milan in August for a fee thought to be in the region of €21 million, as manager Brendan Rodgers attempted to replace the influential Luis Suarez.

But Balotelli has struggled to recreate the form that saw him net 26 times in 43 Serie A appearances at Milan, with the 24-year-old yet to get off the mark in nine Premier League outings this campaign, though he has found the net twice in cup competitions.

Many have criticised Balotelli’s perceived lack of effort since arriving on Merseyside but when asked how he would rate his performances out of 10, he replied with “seven, because I run more than before”.

“The goals, they will come,” he told Fox Sports Australia. “It is something that’s just not coming at the moment. But it’s not something that has just gone.

“Run, like I’m running now, I’ve never run like this.

“I don’t need people to believe in me so long as I believe in myself. The important people for me are my family and my few close friends, as long as they believe in me.

“Some think because I didn’t score and didn’t start well this season that I can’t be one of the top players, a really good player for this team. That’s their business.

“I don’t care what stories people say about me because I know they are lying.”