Hodgson hoping for Mascherano stay

Liverpool are refusing to give up hope of keeping Javier Mascherano but admit they have a private agreement with the player to allow him to leave if the right price is offered.

Mascherano has been linked with Barcelona and Real Madrid but starred for Liverpool against Arsenal on Sunday and could also be selected to face Trabzonspor on Thursday.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson said: "He’s a Liverpool player and I hope he’ll continue to be a Liverpool player. He’ll always be available for selection until the day comes when he’s no longer here.

"As yet we haven’t had any offers. There’s two weeks to go in the transfer window and some of these clubs for some reason like to come in with offers on the 28th or 29th of August.

“But we want to keep him here and we will keep him here unless an offer comes along that is correct - one that is commensurate with his value and one where we would think it would be wrong to turn down because we’ve said to him if that offer comes in we’ll accept it.

"At the moment it’s not there, it’s not even on the horizon. If all these clubs are interested it would be nice if they contacted Liverpool one day."