Mascherano facing D-Day to respond to FA conduct charges

THE Football Association have extended the deadline for Javier Mascherano to respond to his improper conduct charge until 6pm today.

The Liverpool midfielder has been on international duty with Argentina, and the FA have agreed to a 24-hour extension.

However, the date for the case — scheduled to be heard by a regulatory commission — has been brought forward to Thursday, April 3.

The charge came after studying Mascherano’s reaction to his dismissal from Sunday’s 3-0 Barclays Premier League defeat at Manchester United.

The Argentinian midfielder had to be dragged from the pitch by coaching staff and colleagues after being shown a red card in the 45th minute by Steve Bennett.

The referee had given Mascherano a second yellow following his protests against a caution issued to Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.

Reds boss Rafael Benitez admitted Mascherano made a mistake in refusing to leave the pitch, but felt his sending off was harsh.

Mascherano can accept or deny the charge and also has the option of requesting a personal hearing.

The 23-year-old is currently serving a one-match suspension for the dismissal, ruling him out of Sunday’s Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield. But if the charge of improper conduct is upheld, then he will also miss Barclays Premier League games against Arsenal on April 5 and Blackburn eight days later.

However, any ban would exclude the Champions League quarter-final first and second legs against Arsenal on April 2 and 9.

Meanwhile, Fernando Torres has shaken off any fears that he could be a doubt for the Merseyside derby by coming through a friendly for Spain.

Liverpool’s top scorer was taken off after 49 minutes of the Spanish national team’s 1-0 win over Italy but, despite some rough treatment from Marco Materazzi, he emerged unscathed and returned to Merseyside to join up with the Reds’ squad ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Everton.

Torres’ early substitution caused some fears that he might have sustained an injury but, according to local press, Rafa Benitez had an agreement with Spain boss Luis Aragones that his star striker would be taken off shortly after the start of the second half.

Benitez was yesterday assessing the fitness of his international contingent ahead of naming his squad for the derby.

Yossi Benayoun staked his claim for a first team recall with the goal in Israel’s 1-0 win over Chile and he will come into contention for a starting role.

Benitez is considering the claims of Benayoun, Jermaine Pennant, Lucas and Peter Crouch before settling on his line-up.

Meanwhile, Alvaro Arbeloa believes Everton will pose Liverpool a stiff test at Anfield on Sunday.

He said: “They have great players like Arteta and Yakubu, and Cahill and Lescott are playing really well.

“I think the winner would be strong favourites to finish fourth. It is a really important game and if we beat them then I think it will make the difference.”