Kolo Toure is adamant that Liverpool teammate Mario Balotelli can still prove a success at Anfield - as soon as he nets his first Premier League goal.

The Italy international has endured a profligate first season with the Reds, having netted just twice in all competitions since a £16m summer move from AC Milan.

However, Toure is confident that the "world class" 24-year-old is still well equipped to transform his fortunes and rescue his career on Merseyside.

"He is a world-class player. But of course it has been a tough time for him," he told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet.

"I talk to him, everyone knows that he's a good player. Strikers need to score and when they do not score, then their self-confidence drops. But he is a world-class player."

The former Manchester City striker is yet to score in any of his 12 league appearances this season.

Roberto Mancini, who worked with Balotelli at Inter Milan before taking him to City, recently claimed that his former protege was wasting his career.