NEW Argentina captain Javier Mascherano has been guaranteed a place in his national team – even though the Liverpool midfielder can’t be certain of a place in the Liverpool starting line-up!
Argentine boss Diego Maradona said: “Taking Mascherano aside, nobody has a place secured in my team. It doesn’t matter what his name is.”
But club boss Rafa Benitez was less reassuring today.
“I can understand why Maradona would say that,” said Benitez.
“Javier is a very good player who gives them a great balance.
“But for me, Javier has to fight for his place because in his position we have a lot of quality like Lucas, Xabi, Damien Plessis and, of course, Steven Gerrard.”
Ironically, Mascherano is almost certain to start against Fulham tomorrow, with skipper Steven Gerrard unlikely to recover from the groin strain which ruled him out of England’s midweek friendly in Germany.
Benitez is still unhappy with the way his word was doubted by the England set-up and his player forced to travel to the England training camp for a second opinion on his injury.
“We have one more training session before the Fulham match, but I don’t think Stevie will make it,” added the Reds boss.
“That means someone at the FA has made a massive mistake.
“Under normal circumstances it would be nice if someone rang to apologise, but I’m not really expecting a call.”
Fernando Torres is expected to start his first home match for the Reds since October 1 as Liverpool go gunning for their best ever start to a Premier League season.
Victory would give the Reds 35 points, three more than their previous best start to a Premier League season after 14 games, which was set in 2001-02.
Fulham have the best away defensive record in the division outside the top four, conceding just six times on their travels.
The Cottagers travel to Anfield with the pressure off after consecutive home victories over Newcastle and Spurs.
Their former Everton midfielder Simon Davies believes the Londoners are in the mood to make life difficult for the Reds.
“A couple of teams have been close to getting something up there this season – Wigan pushed them very close,” he said.
“We’ve had a couple of good wins so we’re not desperate to get something up there, so if we nick a win or get a draw then it will be all the better for us.”
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