Jordan Henderson has backed new teammate Mario Balotelli to give Liverpool "a big lift" as they bid to build Premier League momentum.
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Manager Brendan Rodgers has suggested that Balotelli is on his "last chance" after completing a 16 million-pound move from AC Milan on Monday.
The 24-year-old Italy international has attracted controversy throughout his short career, to the point that his former Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho once described him as "unmanageable."
But England international Henderson thinks that Balotelli can add an extra dimension to Liverpool's attack, calling him "a very talented player."
Balotelli watched on from the stands at the Etihad Stadium on Monday as the Reds were beaten 3-1 by his former club Manchester City, but he could make his debut when Liverpool visit Tottenham on Sunday.
"I think everybody is looking forward to working with him. He is a very talented player and a very big player coming into the club," England midfielder Henderson told the club's official website. "He was in the dressing room wishing everyone luck. It was good to see him. We hope he can get a good week's training under his belt and be ready for Sunday."
YNWA! COME ON LIVERPOOL! ��✌☝
- Mario Balotelli (@FinallyMario) August 25, 2014
Despite the City loss leaving the Reds with three points from their opening two games, Henderson feels that there were encouraging signs in the defeat.
"It was more of the same in the second half, we were just trying to create, but unfortunately they scored a couple more," he added. "It deflated us but we kept going, kept fighting.
"It could have been a different story again. We will keep going, we'll keep fighting and work on the week what we need to work on and prepare for the next game."