The Argentinian’s departure from Anfield was the very definition of the word ‘acrimonious’. After dodging new manager Roy Hodgson’s calls all summer, Mascherano left it until he was in the dressing room to decide that he was unfit to play in a crucial away fixture against Man City right at the beginning of last season. The end result, with Hodgson’s best-laid plans in complete disarray, Liverpool went onto lose 3-0 in a display devoid of any positives. Mascherano went onto depart for what has transpired to be a trophy-laden spell at Barcelona and Hodgson was out on his ear by the turn of the New Year. Perhaps there’s some stock in the saying ‘nice guys always finish last’ after all.
