Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is convinced Javier Mascherano is returning to his best form.
The Argentina international admits Barcelona's summer interest did unsettle him earlier in the season.
Benitez said: "We were worried at the beginning of the season because we had some problems and Argentina needed to qualify for the World Cup.
"But I think he was very good against United, so now he's coming back. His commitment is always fantastic.
"He was a little bit worried about Argentina and sometimes you cannot stop players thinking about their countries. We knew about speculation with Barcelona but at this moment he's doing really well, his training is fantastic and he is playing at the same level he was before."
