Mancini blames Liverpool for Balotelli red

MANCHESTER CITY manager Roberto Mancini accused Liverpool’s players of getting Mario Balotelli sent off during yesterday’s heated 1-1 draw at Anfield.

Substitute Balotelli was given his marching orders in the 83rd minute following a second yellow card for elbowing Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel — 18 minutes after the Italian had come on.

But while Mancini agreed with referee Martin Atkinson’s decision to book the 21-year-old for pulling back Glen Johnson, he accused Liverpool’s players of pressuring the official into producing a second yellow.