JAVIER MASCHERANO has hinted that he is hoping to convince Liverpool to make his move permanent.
The Argentinian, currently on an 18-month loan from West Ham, joined in January after a miserable first five months in English football at Upton Park.
But since Liverpool paid £1.5million to secure his services for the remainder of this season and next, the Argentine World Cup star has gradually regained his rhythm.
The 22-year-old was man of the match in Liverpool’s 2-1 win at Reading on Saturday, which was his fourth successive start and completed his role in Liverpool’s hat-trick of victories in a week, which has consolidated both their progress in the Champions League and quest to finish third in the Premiership.
And Mascherano acknowledged that his switch to Anfield has been central to him finally settling into English football.
“The truth is I am very happy with Liverpool,” said Mascherano. “Everybody is treating me very well and I hope it continues like that.
“It is good to be in a dressing where there is a lot of Spanish spoken but at the same time we try to speak in English because we are in England and we have to respect that fact.
“But there is a great atmosphere in the dressing room and things are going very well. My team-mates, the technical staff and the fans have been really good to me and that is important.
“And (Reading) was my fourth consecutive game so I am very happy because I have been getting a good run in the side.
“I know what my job is out on the pitch and luckily, here at Liverpool there are some great players. When you are playing with such great players you really enjoy it.
“It is much easier to play alongside great players like the ones here at Liverpool.”
The price that Mascherano commands when his initial loan expires could be a potential sticking point for Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez when he decides whether to keep the midfielder.
But the player who featured in every minute of Argentina’s World Cup
campaign in Germany last summer, is concentrating on ensuring Liverpool’s short-term targets rather than his personal long-teem goals.
“I am very happy here,” added Mascherano. “But we will have to see what happens about the future. At the moment I am just concentrating on what needs to be done, making sure that we finish the season strongly.
“Hopefully we can achieve something very important by winning a European title. There is still a long way to go and hopefully we will put in a good performance on Wednesday to make sure we are in the semi-finals.
“Then next season we will see how things are going but I am relaxed and very happy here with Liverpool.”
Liverpool achieved victory at Reading thanks to Dirk Kuyt’s header four minutes from time, after Alvaro Arbeloa had earlier given them the lead by becoming their first ‘number two’ to score in the Premiership.
The victory grew in significance when Arsenal suffered their first defeat at the Emirates Stadium against West Ham, leaving them five points adrift of third-placed Liverpool.
“We knew that we needed the three points,” said Mascherano. “It was important because
there are still some big league games to come
“We need to keep winning to make sure we are in the Champions League next season.”
Xabi Alonso missed Liverpool’s first ever trip to Reading with a minor groin injury but is expected to be back in contention for a place in Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg at home to PSV Eindhoven.
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