Dismissed Balotelli divides opinion at Anfield

The Italy international was dismissed for two cautionable offences 18 minutes after going on as a second-half substitute.

Mancini had no argument with the first, for pulling back Glen Johnson, but was adamant the second for catching Martin Skrtel with an arm was unjustified.

“It is not correct, the [second] yellow card. I do not agree with this yellow card,” said the City boss.

“The referee didn’t want to get a yellow card out, he did nothing for the yellow card.

“I think every time Mario does something many players provoke him.

“I think the referee gave a free-kick but didn’t want to give a yellow card until all the Liverpool players complained.

“I watched the replay and for me it is nothing.

“This situation in the Premier League – there are a lot in every game; I don’t think all are yellow cards.

“He moved his arm and Skrtel was like a young player and I don’t think that was good.

“Mario should pay attention because he knows many players provoke him and this is not correct.

“Because of his red card we conceded a few chances from Liverpool.”

There were claims after the match that Balotelli had damaged the door of the visitors’ dressing room but Mancini denied any knowledge.

“I don’t know this. If he damaged the door he pays – like his house,” said the Italian, referring to the recent blaze after a firework was let off at Balotelli’s home.

Dalglish claimed Balotelli had nobody to blame but himself for his dismissal.

He said: “I think Balotelli got himself sent off. His actions spoke louder than anybody else’s didn’t they? Sometimes if you look in the mirror you get the answer.

“Sometimes he doesn’t help himself, other times he doesn’t get as much leeway as anyone else gets. But if you help yourself you don’t get in that situation in the first place.”

City had taken the lead through Vincent Kompany’s 31st-minute header but within two minutes Liverpool equalised when Charlie Adam’s shot was deflected past Joe Hart by Joleon Lescott.

After the break the home side ramped up the pressure, even before the sending-off, and City goalkeeper Joe Hart made a number of saves to extend his side’s unbeaten start to the league season.

City faded in the second half and Mancini blamed part of that on their midweek Champions League excursion, where they lost 2-1 to Napoli in Italy.

“I am happy for the boys because in the last 10 minutes we conceded two or three chances and Joe saved an important point,” added Mancini.

“I think we played three days ago in Naples and there was a difference from us and Liverpool because they were fresh and we were not 100 per cent.

“It was important to play a good game and put in a good performance and we tried to win but this ground is not easy because Liverpool are a strong team.”

Liverpool manager Dalglish believes his side’s performance warranted victory, saying of his players: “The performance was fantastic. I don’t think they got what they fully deserved, they deserved all three points.”

The Scot added: “They (City) started better than us but once we got into it we ran it and were the better team in the end.

“Fortunate for us we got the equaliser as soon as we did, it kept our spirits up.

“We tried our very best to win it but we couldn’t get it over the line. The attitude and commitment has been superb almost every day since I came in.

“It’s a team that is in its infancy with three or four new boys and it’s Andy’s (Carroll) first (full) season.

“In both games against the Manchester clubs we played very well.

“We need to keep going and keep concentrating.”

Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam believes his side are improving. He said: “Manchester City are a top side and have top players and we knew it would be difficult. But we stuck to our guns and we played well. It was great entertainment.

“We are progressing the way we want to progress.”

Ironically, considering the silky attacking skills at their disposal, the visitors had taken a 31st-minute lead from an old-fashioned corner routine.

David Silva swung in a left-footed cross and centre-back Kompany glanced a header into the far corner after marker Dirk Kuyt and Glen Johnson got in each other’s way.

Within two minutes City found themselves pegged back as indecision and a bad decision cost them.

Kompany’s weak clearance dropped to Kuyt who squared for Adam to unleash a left-footed drive which was heading wide until Lescott tried to clear and succeeded only in diverting past Hart.

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