Mascherano Olympic Call-Up Sure To Anger Reds Although there has been no official reaction from Liverpool, Javier Mascherano's call-up to represent A

Argentinian Under 23 national team coach Sergio Batista has penciled in Mascherano in a list of players, which also includes Martin Demichelis and Juan Roman Riquelme from Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors respectively.

Batista said: "Riquelme is a player that I like very much. I spoke with him and he wants to be at the Olympic Games.


"I have also included Mascherano because he is very important for the midfield of any team and Martin Demichelis can give his experience to the defence.


"These three players will surely be in the friendly match that we will play on 6th February against Guatemala in Los Angeles.


"Then in August we will have to see if their clubs let us have them for playing in China."

If the Argentine FA get their way this would mean that Mascherano would be absent for the start of the Reds' next Premier League campaign, and one can be sure that Rafa Benitez and co. will not take this sitting down.