Source: SKY_Sports
Masch playing catch-up
Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has vowed to be fully fit for the new season as the Premier League campaign nears kick-off.
The Argentine is lagging behind his team-mates after being granted extra time off following the birth of his second child earlier in the summer.
Mascherano notched up his fifth pre-season appearance in the team's 2-0 win over Norwegian outfit FC Lyn on Wednesday and believes he still has time to catch up with his match fitness.
"Maybe I need a little bit more work because I arrived back when my team-mates had already been back 10 days, but I will be in a good position by the start of the new season," he told the club's official website.
Liverpool have endured an indifferent pre-season campaign with defeat to Rapid Vienna plus a 3-0 thumping at the hands of Espanyol amongst their results, but Mascherano feels Wednesday's win was the perfect response.
"We didn't do well against Espanyol so it was important to win (against Lyn). It's pre-season but we knew we had to improve because in 10 days we start the Premier League.
"There are a lot of positive things to take from this game, like a clean sheet. We know we still have to improve but we are happy and now we have one more game to improve even more.
"After Saturday's game against Atletico we'll have seven days to get in top condition for the Premier League."
Liverpool host Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Saturday, which will be their last pre-season fixture before their league campaign kicks off at White Hart Lane on 16th August.
