Ahead of his first Merseyside derby as a Liverpool player, Mario Balotelli seems determined to look the part.
The 24-year-old has unveiled a startling new haircut that appears on first glance to be inspired by the Liver bird on his new club's crest in training at Melwood on Thursday.
PHOTO: @FinallyMario shows off a new hairstyle ahead of training at Melwood on Thursday morning #LFC pic.twitter.com/sdDNhm4H9m
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 25, 2014It doesn't rank alongside the most infamous high-jinx that established Balotelli as one of football's great cult figures while at Manchester City but the new hairstyle certainly seemed to cause a stir among his Liverpool teammates.
PHOTO: @sterling31, @FinallyMario and Kolo Toure share a joke ahead of training #LFC pic.twitter.com/503IrRqLec
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 25, 2014A critic might point out that Balotelli has now had more haircuts than goals in his short time at Anfield - he has just one strike against Ludogorets in the Champions League to his name so far - but the Italian will be itching to add to his tally when Everton travel across the city to do battle on Saturday.