Mario Balotelli has thanked Liverpool supporters for holding him back from confronting Chris Smalling during Sunday's 2-1 loss to Manchester United.

Balotelli and Smalling almost came to blows in the second half at Anfield following a collision on the touchline, only for Liverpool fans to restrain the Italy international from taking his anger out on his opponent.

Balotelli expressed his disappointment on Facebook on Monday at the result -- which leaves Liverpool five points adrift of the Premier League's top four -- but thanked supporters for helping him to stay out of trouble.

Post by Mario Balotelli - Official.

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, meanwhile, has said the defeat against United can be used as motivation for the rest of the season.

The loss was the club's first in the league since losing 3-0 at Old Trafford in mid-December, and Mignolet believes he and his teammates can bounce back by going on another undefeated run.

"There's still a lot to play for and when we come back from international duty, we've got that big game against Arsenal [in third]," Mignolet told Liverpool's official website.

"The game away to Manchester United at Old Trafford we used as a catalyst to put in a lot of good performances -- so let's use this game as a catalyst again when we come back.

"With all the games still to play until the end of the season we can still do really well. We'll build on the game and hopefully we can come back and get a run going again like we did after that Old Trafford game."

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers echoed Mignolet's comments and urged his squad to use the international break to help put the defeat behind them.

"The message to the players was that last performance at Old Trafford was a great springboard for us," he said. "We went on and, up until this point [against United], we hadn't lost a league game.

"So now we must use this similarly; refocus, get over the disappointment and then come back into a tough game next against Arsenal and really look to get the points there."

Steven Gerrard was on the Anfield pitch for less than a minute on Sunday after a stamp on Ander Herrera. Peter Byrne/PA Wire

Rodgers remains confident the defeat, which saw captain Steven Gerrard sent off less than a minute after coming on at half time, will not derail their bid for a top-four finish.

"It makes it difficult [for the top four]. We had a 10-game objective that we set and built into that was that we were not going to win every single game," added Rodgers.

"It's still very much [possible] for us to go where we want to go, which is the top four. We just need to fight that bit harder and make up a five-point difference."

Mignolet went on to praise Gerrard for his postmatch apology following his sending off.

"That's what he is about," he said. "He spoke to the team after the game inside the dressing room and what was said exactly shall stay in there, but it shows who and what he is off the pitch."

Information from the Press Association was used in this report