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Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has taken to social media to thank the Liverpool supporters who restrained him from getting into an altercation with Chris Smalling during his team’s 2-1 loss to Manchester United on Sunday. The Italian also expressed his disappointment at the result of the game.
The loss left Liverpool five points behind fourth-placed United and delivered a huge blow to their ambitions of a Champions League spot. The turning point of the match came when Steven Gerrard was sent off only 38 seconds after coming on at half-time.
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Balotelli could have followed his captain as 10-man Liverpool were chasing the match. The Italy international, who was already on a yellow card, almost came to blows with United defender Smalling following a challenge near the touch-line.
The nearby Liverpool fans restrained Balotelli to stop the event from escalating and the Italian took to Facebook to express his gratitude to the fans.
