Consistency is the key for Mascherano

(GSM) – Liverpool’s midfield maestro Javier Mascherano believes his team must use Sunday’s Barclays Premier League clash at home to Arsenal as an opportunity to rebuild their battered reputation.

An early exit from the Champions League, for the first time since manager Rafael Benitez took over in 2004, and stuttering domestic form have had some critics writing off the club.

Former captain and manager Graeme Souness said he feared the club could go into “meltdown” if they did not secure Champions League football at the end of this season.

And the Argentina captain admits the team have done “bad things” this season but stressed the players had to start putting things right against the Gunners.

The 25-year-old said: “The confidence is not here at the moment but we have a big game on Sunday to show ourselves, to show the fans and to show everyone that Liverpool still has a good team that can fight for something.

“It’s not must-win on Sunday but it’s really important. It’s not just about the three points, it’s about the situation.

“We couldn’t play as well as we could (earlier in the season). Some players were not in top form, now maybe we are back in form, and some players were injured – which makes it difficult when you can’t play the same team for two or three games.”

Consistency is now the key for Liverpool and a good run over the festive period, they are only four points behind third-placed Arsenal, could stabilise their season.

“It’s difficult because we cannot win two or three games in a row at the moment,” he said.

“We won against Manchester United and then we lost (at Fulham). We couldn’t continue winning but we have to start from now.

“It is a great chance for us. All of us want to win and to get the confidence. We want to play like we can play.

“We have to show to everyone that Liverpool is still a big team and can play against anyone.”

Mascherano said he felt they could prove their detractors wrong by winning a trophy this season.

Despite their Champions League exit Liverpool now drop into the Europa League, although their poor form means they will be unseeded, and they have the FA Cup to look forward to next month.

“We finished the Champions League in a bad way this season and we are sad,” added the Argentina captain.

“We have to do the right things in the Premier League and the Europa League.

“The Europa League is not the same as the Champions League but it is still a competition so we have to try to win it because all of us know when we play for Liverpool it is a big club with a great history.

“The talk now is that it is a bad season for Liverpool but things can change.

“Maybe in May we will be talking about Liverpool winning something.”