Mario Balotelli will return to Liverpool's squad for the festive program but manager Brendan Rodgers was hardly effusive in his praise of the Italy striker's credentials on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old Balotelli has struggled to make an impact at Anfield since his £16 million ($24.88 million) move from AC Milan in August, managing two goals in 15 games.
His off-field antics have also made the headlines and he was fined £25,000 and banned for last weekend's 2-2 draw with Arsenal after posting an offensive message on social media.
At his pre-match news conference, Rodgers welcomed mercurial Balotelli's return for a busy holiday program, starting with a trip to lowly Burnley on Friday, but suggested the former Manchester City player is not suited to Liverpool's style.
"We've seen that it is not really his game, Rodgers said, referring to the high-pressing approach that worked so well with Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge in tandem last season.
"Working with Mario, we've seen that he is someone who is better in and around the box. That level of pressing and intensity is not part of his game.
"But you try to make the best out of the players you have, and the qualities that they have. That's something we will focus on.
"The most important thing is that he's now available after his ban. It adds another player to our squad, which is important especially with Fabio (Borini) now suspended."
Liverpool is 10th and though it got one point in its last two games — a defeat at Manchester United and a home draw with Arsenal — the team is starting to recapture the verve of last season when it was pipped to the title by Manchester City.
Holiday fixtures against Burnley, Rodgers' former club Swansea City and struggling Leicester City, offer Liverpool the chance to start making up lost ground.
"We've tried to find the solution to get back that intensity and that tempo, and I think we've seen that," Rodgers said.
"It's key for us, that aggressive pressure at the top end of the field. It gives us the platform to go on and dominate the ball.
"We have to try to maximize the players that we have to make sure our game is as close as possible to the level we want. The last three games has been a lot closer."
De Gea urges United on
London REUTERS
Goalkeeper David de Gea believes the busy holiday fixture list offers the perfect opportunity for Manchester United to put some pressure on the Premier League's top two clubs.
United was third as it prepared to host Newcastle United on Friday, 10 points behind leader Chelsea and seven behind champion Manchester City.
While a substantial gap, United is on a seven-match unbeaten run and beginning to look like a force again after a sticky start under new manager Louis van Gaal.
Spaniard de Gea says the team must keep the momentum going.
"It's all about keeping this good run going," de Gea told United's website. "Both as an individual and as a team and keeping going with good results.
"This one is going to be a very, very big game. It's really vital that we get the three points and keep this run going because I think we're in some decent form at the moment."
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