PHOTO: Supporters hold back Mario Balotelli after incident with Chris Smalling

Already down to 10 men, Liverpool received some assistance from their supporters to ensure they weren't reduced to nine players in the second half of their 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.

After Steven Gerrard received a straight red card within seconds of taking the pitch at the interval, Mario Balotelli - already on a yellow card - got involved in a tussle with Chris Smalling by the touchline in the 79th minute.

Judging by Balotelli's initial reaction, he was more than prepared to receive a second yellow card by retaliation. But luckily for Mario, some quick-thinking supporters restrained him to prevent a classic Balotelli-esque incident from unfolding.

Here's an alternate angle of the incident: