Mascherano: Rafael will restore our pride

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano insists that everyone at the club knows under-fire manager is the right man for Liverpool and he’ll definitely bring about a positive change at Merseyside derby.

A poor start to their campaign sees the Reds currently in seventh place in the Premier League, having already been knocked out of the Champions League and the League Cup.

There has also been increasing speculation surrounding the future of the Reds boss following the disastrous run of form by Liverpool, but the Argentinean stresses that Rafael has always had the backing he needs and he will definitely guide the club to restore their place in Europe’s elite.

“You can’t just take recent results into account. Liverpool has improved over the last five years and that is due to Rafa. The club wasn’t in the Champions League all the time when he first came to the club,” Mascherano told the News of the World

“Now people think it is normal for Liverpool to always be in the Champions League. Rafa has been the main man in doing that.”

“Rafa is never far from the players. He is always talking with the players because he wants us to improve.”

Mascherano admitted that, finishing in the top four is extremely important and believes that there would be no better way to kick-start a turn in the tide than a win against arch-rivals Everton in the Merseyside derby.

“We know the club has improved every season, so if we cannot finish in the top four this season, it will be really disappointing for everyone at the club,” he said.

“The most important thing today is to go to Goodison Park and win there. A draw would not be a good result for us. We have to win every game because we’re a top club.”