Masch issues rally call

Mascherano: Backing his boss

Related links

Teams

• Liverpool

Players

• Javier Mascherano

Also see

• Liverpool fixtures
• Liverpool stats
• Reds video

Javier Mascherano is confident Liverpool will bounce back strongly from their early exit from the UEFA Champions League.

Tuesday night's win in Debrecen was not enough to save their flagging European campaign as Fiorentina's defeat of Lyon ensured Liverpool's demise.

Critics of Rafa Benitez have been given further fuel to throw on the fire in light of the most crushing of eliminations.

With Liverpool also badly underperforming in the league the pressure is mounting on everyone associated with the Merseyside outfit.

But midfielder Mascherano insists Liverpool will be strong in the face of adversity and not let this latest setback ruin the rest of their season.

"It's a strange feeling for everyone at the club," he told the Liverpool Echo.

"The Champions League is a special competition for us but it's gone and we must keep going.

"Now we are in another competition and we will do all we can to win that. There will be no problem with motivation. The motivation is simply to play for Liverpool.

"Liverpool deserve more from us and that is why we will do our best to win the Europa League."

The Argentine believes Liverpool can soon get back on track, starting with Sunday's crunch derby with Everton.

"We know it is going to be very difficult on Sunday but this is a really important game for us and for our supporters and we have got to start winning in the league again by beating Everton."