‘Alonso and Mascherano will stay at Liverpool’ declares Benitez

Rafa Benitez is convinced Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano will be both still be Liverpool players when the transfer window closes on the 31st of August. The duo have been the source of daily speculation from the press with headlines declaring ‘Liverpool “brace” themselves for bid.’ However almost seven weeks have passed since the end of the season and no bids have been made. Benitez when asked about the pair’s future during the Glen Johnson press conference today, said:

"I do not think Alonso or Mascherano will go. It is clear that they both are under contract with long-term agreements. That is it," declared Benitez to Sky Sports.

"There has been a lot of things written, a lot of rumours, but both players are under contract and we have no more need to talk about things."

"They are both very good players and I will be very pleased to keep them. They both have very good contracts."

"We signed them both from different situations. Alonso was coming from Real Sociedad and nobody had really heard much of him outside of Spain, he did well and we renewed his contract because of that."

"Mascherano came from West Ham where he had not been doing well. We brought him here and gave him a good contract, so we are very pleased with them both,” said Benitez. As a gentle reminder of how good the club has been to the two midfielders, the Reds manager added:

“Liverpool has been very good to them."