text: Mario Balotelli moved a step closer to an Anfield exit in the summer as Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers revealed that the Italian had withdrawn himself from the squad to travel to Arsenal after taking a ‘slight knock’ in training. The £16million striker would only have been a substitute against Arsenal and would even have been behind Daniel Sturridge, who also started on the bench, in the pecking order. And Rodgers revealed the striker did not travel with the squad after a sustaining training ground injury on Friday. Mario Balotelli was not included in the Liverpool squad to face Arsenal after picking up a slight knock . Brendan Rodgers revealed that Balotelli withdrew himself from the squad and did not travel to London . ‘He trained on Friday afternoon with the team and he took a slight knock to his knee and he deemed himself not able to travel,’ said Rodgers. ‘I’m not a medic. He felt it was too sore to travel. The medical staff have looked at it. It was just something that he himself didn’t feel comfortable enough to travel.’ Arsenal ran out 4-1 winners against Liverpool at the Emirates on Saturday . Mesut Ozil scored Arsenal's second as Hector Bellerin, Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud also netted . Though Rodgers did not question Balotelli’s commitment to the club’s cause, the player has been a constant source of frustration at the club this season, with the manager having previously made it clear that he would have to work much harder to adapt to Liverpool’s style. With just four goals in 25 appearances, his future at the club is already in question – though he has another three years on his contract.
target: Liverpool were beaten 4-1 by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday .
  Mario Balotelli was absent from the squad due to a training ground knock .
  Brendan Rodgers revealed Balotelli withdrew himself from the team .
  The Italian did not even travel with the team for the Premier League clash .