Argentina captain Javier Mascherano wants his Liverpool team-mates to be inspired by his country's example as they seek to end a run of four straight defeats against Manchester United.

Sunday's match at Anfield threatens to be a pivotal fixture for the struggling Reds, who are seven points behind Premier League champions United and in danger of falling out of the title race before the end of October.

But midfielder Mascherano has already come out of one slump this term, with Argentina.

"I am relaxed now that Argentina have qualified, I can concentrate only on Liverpool," Mascherano said. "This is not a good situation at the club, and I want to give Liverpool my best.

"I am captain of my country, and we were really under pressure in the final two qualifying games; people said we were out. But we won both those games. We have qualified. Maybe it will be the same for Liverpool now if we start to win, things will start to happen for us like they did for my country," Mascherano said.