JAVIER MASCHERANO has urged Liverpool not to sell Xabi Alonso – while expressing his desire to see compatriot Carlos Tevez at Anfield next season.

Speculation continues to rage over Alonso’s future, despite Rafael Benitez repeatedly stating he does not want the Spanish midfielder to leave.

Real Madrid presidential candidate Florentino Perez is keen to sign Alonso and will reportedly make a £23million bid for the player should he as expected be elected into the Bernabeu hotseat next month.

But Mascherano, who prospered in central midfield alongside Alonso this season, believes Liverpool should resist any overtures from Madrid.

“Hopefully the great players in Liverpool can stay and we can bring another player to improve the team,” said the Argentine.

“It’s important when you have the team in good form to keep the key players and Xabi is one of them.”

Another player Argentina captain Mascherano wants at Anfield next season is Tevez, his international colleague and briefly West Ham United team-mate when they both arrived in the Premier League in August 2006.

Tevez is likely to leave United in the summer with talks over his future at the club anticipated after tomorrow’s Champions League final.

It is believed that Tevez does not want to move from his Cheshire home and intends staying in the Premier League if he does eventually leave United.

Tevez is among several players Benitez is tracking as he contemplates his summer squad strengthening programme and Mascherano is convinced the Anfield manager should make a move.

“I don’t know what the situation is but it would be great if Carlos could can here because I know how good he is,” said the midfielder. “But maybe it’s a difficult situation.

“I don’t know exactly what is happening. The only thing I can say is that he is a great player and a great person.

“I don’t speak to him about football situations, just about his family. But everyone knows that Tevez is a great player.”