Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini accused Liverpool’s players of getting Mario Balotelli sent off as the Premier League leaders were held to a 1-1 draw at Anfield.

Substitute Balotelli was given his marching orders in the 83rd minute following a second yellow card for elbowing Liverpool’s Slovakian 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.

“I think so,” said Mancini when asked if he thought Skrtel made the most of the incident.

“My impression is he gave a free-kick and didn’t want to give the yellow card, but after all the Liverpool players went there he gave it.

“I’m disappointed with him (Balotelli) for the first yellow card but not for the second yellow. For me, the second yellow was not a yellow card. In fact, I don’t think he wanted to give a yellow card.

“I have said many times Mario can do everything. We can’t change him in one month and today he didn’t deserve it,” the Italian manager added.

“The last three months he has played well and scored goals. He is an important player for us.”

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish insisted Balotelli had no-one but himself to blame for his third red card in a City shirt since joining in August, 2010.

“Ballotelli got himself sent off,” said Liverpool great Dalglish.