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Mario Balotelli finds himself at the centre of yet another controversy as Manchester City head into their crucial Carling Cup semi-final with Liverpool on Wednesday as Paddy Power bookmaker once again come up trumps with another free bets offer for you.

The eccentric Italian has been charged with violent conduct by the Football Association after appearing to deliberately stamp on Scott Parker in City’s 3-2 win over Tottenham on Sunday.

Referee Howard Webb failed to notice the incident, and Balotelli remained on the pitch, going on to score a dramatic late winner from the penalty spot.

Now the 21-year-old could face a four match ban, having been sent off earlier in the season.

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Should Manchester City appeal and the FA deem that to be frivolous, the suspension could even be longer.

Following the game, Spurs manager Harry Redknapp expressed his anger that Balotelli had remained on the pitch, and believed the incident could have been the turning point in the game.

He said: “It is not the first time he has done that and I am sure it won’t be the last. I have got my own opinions but I don’t like people kicking other people in the head on football pitches. I don’t think it’s wrong to say that.

“Why you should back-heel someone in the head when they are lying on the floor is beyond me. It’s not a nice thing to do. He reacts to challenges like that at times. Scott has got a cut on his head.”

Joleon Lescott was involved in a similar separate incident with Younes Kaboul during the game as well, but the FA have decided not to take that matter any further.

City must now put that problem behind them and focus on what is the job in hand now – overturning a 1-0 deficit in the second leg of the Carling Cup semi-final with Liverpool at Anfield.

The Blues were the victims of a shock defeat in the first leg, as Steven Gerrard hit the only goal of the game from the penalty spot.

They will also have to continue to make do without the influential brothers, Kolo and Yaya Toure, who are both away on Africa Cup of Nations duty with the Ivory Coast.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are still without Luis Suarez who is serving an eight match ban for his racist remarks to Patrice Evra at the back end of last year.

The Reds will need to pick themselves up from an humiliating 3-1 defeat at the hands of relegation haunted Bolton if they are to reach Wembley.

Manager Kenny Dalglish was furious with his team’s performance after the game, and has demanded a big response.

He said: “All season we’ve been very complimentary about the way the boys have gone about their work, but I don’t think you could say that on Saturday.

“Their approach to the game was poor. If you have pride in yourself and in the football club that reflects in the effort you put in. I don’t know where that attitude came from but it needs to go quickly.

“Whether they had their minds on the next two games, I don’t know. But every game we play is an important game”

“Now we will get our minds on the Manchester City game. We have to solve our own problems. What do we do to put it right? Same as we always do – we work.”