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Rafa Benitez has revealed that Javier Mascherano has been fined by the club following his sending off at Old Trafford last weekend.
To watch the press conference click here>>

The Argentina international today admitted an FA charge of improper conduct, which was one of the key issues discussed at this afternoon's pre-match press conference at Melwood.

Here's what Benitez told reporters in full:

Rafa, I understand Javier Mascherano has admitted his misconduct charge. Can you tell us any more?

We were talking and the player has apologised for his reaction after the sending off. He knew after the game he made a mistake, it's clear. Now we are waiting for the hearing.

How worried are you that he could face a bit of a spell out now?

Mascherano is a fantastic professional and the club has no red cards this season. It was a special situation, everyone was surprised but he knows. We have fined the player and he accepted that and asked for it to go to charity.

Players like Adebayor have been given a one-match ban for similar incidents – is that a precedent?

Yes, we know the situation with other players and the lawyers are working. Now we have to wait.

Are you worried that other referees could now follow the example of Steve Bennett, especially in a derby when passions run high?

I don't think so. People talk about the number of red and yellow cards in a derby but the players know how to do things. They know they must fight and tackle but they know they have to do things properly. I don't think we will have big problems.

Have you had to speak to your players?

Not really, because like I say we have a fantastic disciplinary record this season. We just have to approach the game in the same way as the previous games. Always I say the same: try to play with your heart and your head.

I wondered if you'd spoken to Steven Gerrard and told him to keep an eye on the players on the pitch?

No, I don't think we need to change many things. The behaviour of the team through the whole season has been really good.

Is self-control the key, because we saw Everton's passions maybe got the better of them last time and maybe they felt a few decisions went against them?

I don't agree that the decisions went against them. If you analyse the whole game you can talk about every decision for a long time. Maybe people were thinking these things because the decisions happened at the end of the game.

But that is what they felt at the time...

Yes, we felt the opposite.

Is the key, then, retaining self-control for 90 minutes?

The key and the message for everyone is to try to support the team, and to try to be good professionals.

Last time you took Steven Gerrard off because you felt he was using too much passion...

You know when you have a local player in a derby it's sometimes more difficult. When you have a player with quality, it's really important they use this quality. With Steven Gerrard, he has quality and passion, and if he can use both it's much better for him and the team.

Will this game decide who finishes fourth?

No, I don't think so. We will need to keep winning games if we want to be sure of finishing in the top four.

Five points would be a nice cushion, though...

Yes, it would be a good advantage but we have some important games, especially away, so we'll need to keep working hard until the end.

David Moyes has indicated there is less pressure on Everton because fifth place would still be a massive achievement for them. Is the pressure on you this weekend?

It's normal for a game like this for some managers to say things like this.

Who is the pressure on?

All of us want to win. They want to win, we want to win.

Do you enjoy derbies, Rafa?

I enjoy the big games, especially if we win. We prepare every game by analysing everything, but you know in a derby that small details can be really important. I like to play these games – and I would like to play in these games, but I can't!

Is there a temptation to rest players ahead of Arsenal?

No.

How difficult is it to weigh up the situation with such a big Champions League game coming up?

It's difficult to talk about this because for the whole season we've been talking about changes and rotation, but this depends on the manager and whether you win or not. But anyway, we will try to put out a strong team and win. We know finishing in the top four is really important if we want to be in the Champions League next season.

Has the referee got to take into account how big an occasion this is?

Normally we don't talk about referees before the game, and afterwards we try not to say too much.

How is Fernando Torres? Will he be fit?

Yes, I think so. I don't know how to say it in English, but let's say Materazzi was giving him some gifts! But he is okay. He is fit and was training.

What about the England players?

Yes, they are okay. They have some knocks too but I think they will be okay. All the international players arrived back okay. Some of them were late but I think they will be okay.

There's talk around England that some players can't reproduce their club form at international level. Is that a fair criticism?

I don't know. I am concerned about the players in my team. If I don't talk about other managers and other teams, I will not talk about how they perform for the national teams.

Will what happened at Man Utd be added motivation this weekend?

I think we approached the game against United with a lot of confidence. We can't change the result and we are really disappointed, but the best thing for us is to be able to play a derby. We can be really focused because it's a fantastic game for the players. When you play against other teams, you never know if the players will be focused. But in this game you know.

Does one result like at Man Utd affect the confidence after the run you've been on?

No, I don't think so. The team has confidence and we have a lot of confidence.

What do you make of what Everton have done this season? Are they getting closer to Liverpool?

In terms of points they are having a good season, it's true.

Is it the kind of rivalry you welcome when two teams from the same city are doing well?

No, I prefer to be top of the table.

What did you make of the comments by George Gillett today?

The chief press officer told me but I am really, really focused on the derby.

Any further team news?

No, the rest of the squad is fit. Agger is out and Kewell picked up an injury, but I don't think that will be serious.

How long is Harry likely to be out?

We don't know exactly. He is coming back and we will see with the doctor.

Are you disappointed with that?

Yes, the international breaks are never good for managers.

Are his chances of getting a new contract diminishing?

He has to work hard in every training session.

Do you think the derby game has changed over the years?

I think any game in football is difficult, especially a derby. If you want to win a derby you need to work really hard until the last minute. Two or three years ago we were down to 10 men but could still have scored more goals. Anything can happen in a derby.

The make up of the teams, though, there's fewer locals lads...

We have some local players with passion and maybe they can transmit that to the other players. But the foreign players like Skrtel and Torres, maybe before the game they will prepare as normal, but in the game they will feel something.

Javier Mascherano was really fired up last Sunday. How much are you going to miss his intensity in this game?

Everybody knows he was playing really well. Maybe we will miss the player but we have enough quality in the squad and will try to manage.

Where does this game rank among the massive games you've played since you arrived?

If you play a final, that's the most important game. But a derby is just below a final.

What is your comment on all the things going on off the pitch at the club?

If we win against Everton, everyone will be happy.

The Barcelona manager's job – you've been linked to it. Michael Laudrup has also. Do you think he is a candidate?

I think Rijkaard is a fantastic manager who is doing a very good job.