Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said he will seek talks with referees' chief Keith Hackett following Javier Mascherano's red card in Sunday's 3-0 defeat by Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The Argentine midfielder was given a second yellow card for dissent having earlier been booked for a foul, and then added to his troubles when he refused to leave the pitch.

He will serve an automatic one match ban, ruling him out of Sunday's Merseyside derby against Everton, but could face a longer suspension if the FA punish him for his histrionics.

Benitez initially seemed angry with his player, who he gripped firmly while talking to him in Spanish when he eventually left the pitch, but later said he considered the sending off to be harsh.

"I would like to speak to Keith Hackett because it is important that we find a solution," he told Liverpool's website.

"At Liverpool, we respect the game, we respect the rules and we respect the referee, and it is important to remember that Mascherano was the first Liverpool player to be sent off in the league this season."

The FA were expected to announce details of Mascherano's suspension later on Tuesday.

Reuters