Manchester City Roberto Mancini has claimed that Liverpool and Luis Suarez handled the Patrice Evra racism case incorrectly.

Suarez was banned for eight games after being found guilty of racially abusing Evra during a match against Manchester United on October 15.

Liverpool stood behind the Uruguayan throughout the case and the squad wore t-shirts in support of the striker before last month's match against Wigan Athletic.

Asked if Liverpool made a mistake by wearing the t-shirts, Mancini replied: "Maybe, maybe this."

Mancini also admitted that he felt Suarez and the club should have apologised immediately instead of prolonging the situation.

"It is important to apologise for what you did," he added. "Sometimes on the pitch you can do something that you don't want to do, because you are nervous, you don't think. I don't think Suarez is a racist. I think he made a mistake, probably, yes."

Mancini's side take on Liverpool in the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final on Wednesday.