He without doubt has to be the most limited footballer ever to pull on a red shirt, could tackle not too bad but was quite reckless, could'nt head, could'nt pass, could'nt really run or dribble, could'nt score goals and was a liability as he normaly saw red, all for price of 20 million pound or so, terrible one paced, negative spoiler of a player as bad as Batty, Ray Wilkins and Deschamps the Water Carrier.
There are far more linitred footballers in our current starting 11 than Mascherano
Whilst he couldn't control or pass a ball like Alonso, he was the perfect foil with his tough tackling and constant harrying of midfield opponents. Those two in midfield were every bit as important as Torres and Gerrard up front
You say he normally saw Red. I think he got sent off once during his whole Liverpool career - and that was because he was upset at seeing Torres being penalised for getting fouled by referee Steve Bennett who sent him off to get the favour of the old trafford crowd
