Roberto Mancini has claimed that Liverpool defender Glen Johnson's tackle on Joleon Lescott was worse than Vincent Kompany's recent challenge on Nani.
Kompany was sent off during City's FA Cup defeat to Manchester United on Sunday for a controversial tackle with which he appeared to win the ball.
Johnson committed a similar challenge on Lescott during Liverpool's Carling Cup semi-final first leg win at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
"There was a tackle from Glen Johnson that was worse than Vincent Kompany's against Manchester United," Mancini told BBC Sport.
The second leg at Anfield takes place on Wednesday, January 25.