Tevez was part of the United team that beat Liverpool to the title this season and Mascherano admitted to “not feeling good” about finishing second.

“We wanted to win the league and we were very close, but we accept that Manchester United did very well also,” said the Argentina captain.

“It is difficult to take, because if you look at the table and you see Liverpool with 86 points, that’s enough to win the league in many previous seasons.

“Previous champions have had less points than we had this season. But we have to improve, and we will be ready for next season after what has been a good campaign and better than the last four or five seasons beforehand.”

One player who will be definitely be coming to Liverpool is Andriy Voronin.

The Ukraine international has reached the end of a successful 12-month loan spell at Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin, where he scored 11 league goals.

However, a 4-0 final-day defeat at relegated Karlsruhe at the weekend cost Hertha their chance of qualification to the lucrative Champions League and compelled the German side not to take up their option of signing Voronin on a permanent deal for a fee of around £4million.

“The match on Saturday was my last match as a Hertha Berlin player,” said Voronin.

“I want to wish the club and their fans all the best in the future.”