Why was Mascherano sent-off?

Javier Mascherano still has no idea why he was sent off against Manchester United during Liverpool's 3-0 Premier League defeat at Old Trafford. 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 yesterday's dismissal.

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.'