JAVIER MASCHERANO has allayed fears of an imminent Anfield exit by insisting he is staying at Liverpool – to win the Premier League title.

The Argentina midfielder had cast doubt over his long-term career at the club during a recent television interview by refusing to rule out a summer departure.

It prompted Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez to make it clear the 24-year-old was going nowhere.

Now Mascherano, who was reportedly attracting interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona, has underlined his intention to stay and set his sights on silverware with Liverpool.

“My future is here,” said the Argentine. “I am here and I will continue to give 100% and it will always be like this. I think we have taken a big step this season, a really big step.

“In the past three or four seasons Liverpool have lost the league maybe in December or January but this time we are there right at the very end of the season and we still have a chance so this is very important.

“Our job now is to continue to work hard and to improve because we have shown that we can win against the biggest teams.”

The frustration for Liverpool is that they could end the campaign having scored more goals than Manchester United, lost just two games against United’s four, achieved a bigger goal difference and also completed a double over the Old Trafford side.

Former West Ham United men Mascherano and Yossi Benayoun played key roles in Saturday’s 3-0 victory over their former club at Upton Park that put Liverpool top for 24 hours, before United comfortably beat Manchester City on Sunday.

And it is Benayoun who has pinpointed the time, mid-season, when the damage was done to Liverpool’s title chase.

Should United seal the four points they need tomorrow at Wigan Athletic and then at home to Arsenal on Saturday, they will be crowned champions before Liverpool play next at West Brom on Sunday.