Mascherano wants long stay

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has insisted that he wants to stay at the club for the long term. The player has admitted he would love to be still playing for the club when their new stadium opens in 2010.

"I'm very happy here, I feel settled and would like to play at the new stadium (due to be opened in 2010)," he told The Sun.

"I love playing for Liverpool and if the manager wants to keep me then I'd definitely stay for a long time”.

"Liverpool are one of the world's biggest teams, they've got history, tradition, success and great fans."

Mascherano, who has partnered skipper Steven Gerrad in the centre midfield, is one of many Liverpool players to be used in rotation by Rafa Benitez - but the 23-year-old insists this is not an issue.

"Rafa's always used rotation so why would he stop it when it has brought him so much success?" he added.

"I know if I want to play I need to work really hard, we have good players in every position so no one has the right to start every match."