Source: Daily_Mail
Mascherano's joy as Carlos seeks a United front
They came together to embrace as they left the field at Old Trafford on Saturday but the careers of Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez would appear to be heading in opposite directions. [LNB]Friends and Argentina international team-mates, the two have not had it particularly easy since they arrived at West Ham from Corinthians in the late summer of 2006.[LNB] Friendly tussle: Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano[LNB]Both subsequently endured protracted and controversial moves from London and found it more difficult than they would have imagined to adjust their games to the Barclays Premier League's unique environment. [LNB]But - as odd as it may sound given the trophies Tevez has already won with Manchester United - it would appear that it is Mascherano who has the more certain future now. [LNB]Bedded in as a destructive force at the base of Liverpool's midfield, the 24-year-old was magnificent as Rafael Benitez's side disrupted United's creative flow on the way to a 4-1 victory that has asked questions of the holders' title credentials for the first time in weeks. [LNB]Mascherano did not feature in the Match of the Day highlights very prominently. It is hard to shove such as Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres out of the limelight on weekends like this. Nevertheless, those at Old Trafford on this remarkable afternoon will have recognised the part the South American played. [LNB] Manchester United 1 Liverpool 4: Benitez issues a quick guide on the way to defeat United[LNB]Jamie Redknapp's weekend watch: Carra deserves as much credit as Gerrard and Torres[LNB]Manchester United 1 Liverpool 4: All the action as it unfolded[LNB]LIVERPOOL FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB]MANCHESTER UNITED FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB][LNB]Victories such as this are built on solid, reliable foundations and when United followers ask this week why Michael Carrick and - when they came on - Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes were so ineffectual, they may realise that Liverpool's pugnacious midfielder had a good deal to do with it. [LNB]Certainly, he enjoyed a better afternoon than he did last season in this fixture. On that occasion he was sent off unnecessarily as Liverpool were embarrassed 3-0 by their great rivals. [LNB]Argie bargy: Mascherano celebrates with Nabil El Zhar at the final whistle.[LNB]Mascherano said: 'It's a much better feeling than last year but I just had to forget about that. Sometimes things happen like this in football but I was determined not to suffer that again. You have to look forward in football and not dwell on problems in the past.' [LNB]Certainly, that is a sentiment that Mascherano's friend Tevez may wish to ponder. But it must be difficult. United's own Argentine has spent much of this season wondering if his club and his manager really want him. For Tevez, it must be quite hard to look forward at times. [LNB]With United still deciding whether it makes practical business sense to pay £32m to convert a loan arrangement to a permanent transfer - and for a squad player at that - it is undoubtedly the case that the uncertainty over his future has affected Tevez's football. [LNB]We saw a true glimpse of the little forward's true quality recently as he spanked in a wonderful goal during United's 4-0 FA Cup victory at Fulham nine days ago. [LNB]On Saturday, however, he was handed an unexpected opportunity to build on that contribution, with Dimitar Berbatov left out, and flunked it. Unlike other South Americans in the Premier League, Tevez will rarely be found wanting when it comes to workrate and energy. They are integral parts of his makeup. [LNB]Sadly, however, the light has gone out on the other, more expansive part of his football; the part for which United would, perhaps, pay all that money. [LNB]Tevez was not the only United forward to perform poorly on Saturday. Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo failed, too. But Tevez is a unique case. Rooney and Ronaldo will have their days in the sunshine again. Tevez will find himself back in the role of understudy. [LNB]He has a host of medals from his short time at United and there will, in all likelihood, be more by the end of May. One wonders, though, if they will be his last.[LNB] Manchester United 1 Liverpool 4: Benitez issues a quick guide on the way to defeat United[LNB]Jamie Redknapp's weekend watch: Carra deserves as much credit as Gerrard and Torres[LNB]Manchester United 1 Liverpool 4: All the action as it unfolded[LNB]LIVERPOOL FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB]MANCHESTER UNITED FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB][LNB] [LNB]
