Fuente: © Liverpool F.C.
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/

LIVERPOOL FC: RAFA: MASCH KNOWS HIS MISTAKE

Rafa Benitez admitted Javier Mascherano was naïve during Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Man Utd but claimed the Argentine was dismissed simply for asking the referee a question.

/noticias.info/ Steve Bennett showed the midfielder a second yellow on the stroke of half time after his enquiry as to why Fernando Torres was booked.

Lively protests followed before Benitez eventually calmed Mascherano down.

The Liverpool boss said: "It's clear Mascherano made a mistake but he was only asking the referee a question. Ryan Babel was there and saw that he was just asking.

"Maybe he does not know the referee.

"The referee decided to give a second yellow card and he couldn't understand. He was as surprised as me.

"I could speak to him in Spanish, so I said, 'Listen, it's finished.'

"He knows he made a mistake but he was so surprised. He is a very good professional who has played a lot of international games all around the world, and he couldn't understand why he was sent off for just asking.

"It's difficult to explain some things that happen on the pitch and I think it is perhaps better to not say too much this time."

Benitez was asked after the final whistle whether he'd now talk to his players about their conduct in front of referees.

He said: "We haven't had too many problems with referees in the last three or four years. I can see other teams but not ours. Tell me in which game over the last four years you've seen our players go at referees? We have a lot of respect for referees."

Asked if he thought Bennett would have sent off Mascherano had Ashley Cole not caused such outrage with his show of dissent in midweek, Benitez replied: "You will have to ask him."

The result means Benitez is now eight league games without a win against United.

Even though the hosts were in front through Wes Brown when the sending off took place, the Spanish coach felt the day could still have brought that first win had the second half started with 22 men on the pitch.

He said: "I am really disappointed because we saw two games: one before the sending off and one after.

"Before the sending off we were more or less okay. We were trying from counter attacks and had some corners.

"We pressed a little bit in the second half but when you play against a team with pace and ability it is hard.

"Our people will now be disappointed and I am the first to be disappointed, but we cannot change the situation."

Benitez admitted afterwards that defensive errors cost his side dear on the day.

"We conceded two goals from two mistakes," said the Anfield boss. "Pepe Reina is better than a lot of players and sometimes you think you can arrive but you just arrive late. These things can happen."

Another player in the thick of the action was Fernando Torres, who received tough treatment from Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand before being brought off with 10 minutes to go.

Benitez added: "He has some knocks on his ribs and ankle. A lot of knocks and a lot of kicks. I was just trying to protect him. The doctors will do a scan and we will see."

Despite the result, Liverpool go into next weekend's Merseyside derby with a two-point cushion in the race for fourth.

Benitez said: "This game is finished, now we have an international break and then an important game against Everton. I will say to the players to forget about this as soon as possible and think about Everton.

"It's never easy to forget when you lose against one of your rivals when you know that, if you beat them, you will be really, really close. The only thing we can do is think about the next one." notas_de_prensa_archivo