Javier Mascherano
I bet that first name that crosses your mind when you hear Liverpool is the skipper Steven Gerrard. No wonder! The product of Liverpool’s youth academy Gerrard has been with Scousers like since forever. Ever since his debut in 1998 he has been the vital part of this club, helping the Reds to a unique treble of Uefa Cup, FA Cup and League Cup in 2000/1 season before captaining the club to victory in the 2005 Champions League Final. The lad is a living legend of this club. He is the man you would definitely want to see in your squad, but you simply can’t! early in his career he had turned down interest from Chelsea to keep faith to Liverpool until today. Now, no one even thinks of trying to coax him away from Liverpool aware it would be a mission impossible.
He is everything you need in a player! He runs, he shoots, he assists, he plays defense, he plays offense, he is playing it all! Steven is the undisputed leader of this team and will be for years to come.
Anyhow, Steven Gerrard is not the main topic here. Watching Liverpool play this season which is deemed to be one of the most successful in few years back, I couldn’t help noticing a man from the shadow, one lad you will never see scoring breath-taking, stunning goals like Gerrard, but the lad who has a different role in this club he is doing impeccably.
The boy I’m talking about is Javier Mascherano. When the package holding Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez had arrived from Argentina, no one could’ve guessed the two would become such valuable players on the island. West Ham grabbed the two under somewhat suspicious circumstances and for a while they were just two confused boys sitting on the bench watching their new teammates from the sidelines. When they got their chance, they both had an immediate impact on both pundits and the fans attracting the interest from big four.
Heading off their separate ways, Carlos Tevez went on to become Fergie’s important asset currently keeping his fingers crossed for the new deal while Javier went on to Liverpool. Rafa Benitez values the players like Mascherano had become for his new club and he definitely should. The boy is a hell of a player!
I was watching a derby with Chelsea this weekend and to be honest his performance simply blew me away. Liverpool are amazing this season, now holding the top seat and Mascherano definitely has a great deal of this year’s success. Standing in front of the defense line , this strong defensive midfielder is a solid as a rock. This Sunday, Anelka was stopped whenever the French got the ball, Frank Lampard was unable to get near the box with the ball, let least to shoot. Javier is like a shadow, sneaking behind the rival, running on the ball, clearing the defensive third, literary killing the rivals’ strikers. Whenever he is on, Steven Gerrard has nothing to worry about. Steve losses a ball, Javier wins it back. Lampard gets pass Gerrard, Mascherano stops him in front of the box. It’s like he is there to correct his teammates mistakes. And he is doing it great!
In fact, I think he is the one pulling the strings in his team, clearing the threats, serving the balls for Gerrard to distribute on. And when a ball shakes the net fans will not hail his name. his work is simply downplayed…
Still, Rafa knows, Rafa is aware of his influence since Javier is in my opinion arguably becoming the precious link whose qualities, work rate and influence possibly exceeds Gerrard’s. A lot of people will disagree, but next time you watch him in action, maybe this weekend already, take a closer look, you might even change your mind…
Popularity: 9% [?]
Mascherano is a fantastic player, the job he does protecting Liverpool’s back line is huge. Also have been very impressed by Alonso in the last few games for Liverpool. Add Gerrard into the mix and that is an excellent midfield trio!