Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano says taking the Argentina captaincy has made him a better player.

He claims having the weight of history and a nation's expectations on his shoulders has made him a stronger person.

"As captain, you feel a more general pressure of the team, rather than just as an individual," Mascherano told LFC Weekly.

"I didn't want to be remembered as the first captain in 40 years not to lead the team to a World Cup. I knew that a failure to qualify for South Africa would affect everybody in the country. The outside pressures as a captain are more noticeable.

"I have learnt a lot very quickly from being captain of the national team and it has made me a better player and stronger person. In the long term, I hope that will also benefit Liverpool."