Liverpool Football Club News

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• Founded:1892
• Manager:Kenny Dalglish

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Rafa wants Hackett talks

26 Mar 2008 - 08:34:13

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Frustrated Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez wants to hold talks with referees' chief Keith Hackett following Javier Mascherano's controversial dismissal in Sunday's 3-0 defeat at Manchester United.

The Argentina international was handed a second yellow card by referee Steve Bennett for persistent dissent and could face a three-match suspension after refusing at first to leave the pitch.

"I would like to speak to Keith Hackett because it is important we find a solution," said Benitez.

"At Liverpool we respect the game, the rules and we respect the referee."

Mascherano - who had already been booked - appeared to question referee Bennett's decision to caution Fernando Torres, and was then shown a second yellow card himself.

The midfielder is already suspended for Sunday's Anfield clash with Merseyside rivals Everton but, if his ban is extended to three matches, will also miss the Premier League games against Arsenal and Blackburn.

Meanwhile, Mascherano insists he did not swear at the match official and is unsure why he was dismissed.

He told the Daily Echo: "I do not know why I was sent off. I asked the referee what was happening. I did not swear. I was not aggressive and I did not confront him. All I did was ask him what was happening, nothing else.

"When he showed me the second yellow card and sent me off I could not believe it. I am sorry to my team-mates because that meant we went down to ten men and that made things even more difficult for us."