Javier Mascherano is mystified by his sending off against Manchester United, but has apologised to the rest of the Liverpool team.

While the possibility persists that the Argentinian could yet have to serve more than the mandatory one-match ban - because he failed to leave the pitch immediately after being red-carded - Mascherano remains non-plussed over the initial reason for Sunday's dismissal during the 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford.

Referee Steve Bennett had already booked him for a foul when Mascherano sought to make his feelings known to the official after Fernando Torres had also been given a yellow card.

It was then the referee gave the midfielder his second booking for dissent.

But Mascherano claimed: "I do not know why I was sent off.

"I asked the referee what was happening. I did not swear; I was not aggressive and I did not confront him.

"All I did was ask him what was happening, nothing else."

Mascherano, who subsequently lost his cool as he made his way off the field, told the Liverpool Echo: "When he showed me the second yellow card and sent me off I could not believe it.

"I am sorry to my team-mates because that meant we went down to 10 men - and that made things even more difficult for us."

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