Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez says World Cup qualification for Argentina will help Javier Mascherano's form.

Mascherano has struggled so far this season and been linked with Barcelona and Juventus.

He said: "I feel that it will be good for Javier Mascherano now to know the Argentina have qualified. It is always difficult when you struggle and the whole country is watching, but now he can concentrate on Liverpool.

"Javier was under pressure as captain, and with Diego Maradona saying Argentina were Javier and 10 others.

"For the players who have now qualified, it is a weight off their minds."