• Premier League

Mascherano not focused to play - Hodgson

ESPN staff
August 23, 2010
Javier Mascherano would jump at the chance to join Barcelona © Getty Images
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Roy Hodgson has insisted Javier Mascherano was not in the right frame of mind to feature in Liverpool's clash with Manchester City.

It emerged early on Monday evening that the Argentina midfielder had not travelled to Eastlands with the rest of the Liverpool squad. It has been claimed that Mascherano told Hodgson that he no longer wanted to play for the club, with suggestions that Barcelona had tabled a bid for his services.

Hodgson gave no indication as to whether the player told him he did not want to play, but conceded it would not have been right for Mascherano to take the field in Manchester.

"He is not here tonight because there is some speculation about his future and his mind is not right, so it was not correct to select him," Hodgson told Sky Sports.

Hodgson has not given up hope of getting the chance to select Mascherano again, as the club will not shift from their valuation of the player.

"Hopefully it will be resolved before the end of the transfer window and I will get the chance to select him again, but it was not right tonight," Hodgson said.

"The club has got a position. We are under pressure from other clubs who want to sign him. There may come a time when the offer matches our valuation, but until that day he stays with us."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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