Mascherano shocked by red

Javier Mascherano said on Monday afternoon that he was shocked that referee Steve Bennett sent him off. Mascherano had been aggressive throughout the whole of the first half and eventually received his marching orders from Bennett.

Mascherano said on Monday: "I do not know why I was sent off. I asked the referee what was happening. I did not swear; I was not aggressive and I did not confront him.

"All I did was ask him what was happening, nothing else.

"When he (Bennett) showed me the second yellow card and sent me off I could not believe it.

"I am sorry to my team-mates because that meant we went down to 10 men - and that made things even more difficult for us (Liverpool were only 1-0 down at the time)."