It is somewhat ironic that Javier Mascerano, the man talked about for the past week or so as the largely unsung keystone player in the Liverpool team, left Liverpool up a creek without a paddle by getting himself sent off on Sunday. Mascerano, had already been booked for a bad challenge on Scholes ten minutes in to the game – but he received a second yellow for sprinting to Fernando Torres’ defence after the Spaniard was booked for dissent. And the Argentine may have made matters worse for himself by refusing to leave the pitch and continuing his tongue lashing of ref Steve Bennett.
All this has come at the worst possible time for the Anfield side, and after trumpeting Mascherano’s worth, Rafa will now definitely be without the Argentine for the Merseyside derby. In a week where the spotlight has been on fair and mature discourse with referees, Mascherano’s outburst could lead to an additional ban from the FA.