Mascherano mystified by red card

Javier Mascherano still has no idea why he was sent off against Manchester United during Liverpool's 3-0 Barclays Premier League defeat at Old Trafford.

While the possibility persists that the Argentinian could yet have to serve more than the mandatory one-match ban - because he failed to leave the pitch immediately after being red-carded - Mascherano remains non-plussed over the initial reason for Sunday's dismissal.

Mascherano told the Liverpool Echo: "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."

Mascherano, who subsequently lost his cool as he made his way off the field, added: "When he 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."