HANDS OFF JAVIER MASCHERANO

RAFA BENITEZ is braced for a £30million New Year showdown with Barcelona over Javier Mascherano.

Liverpool boss Benitez has warned the La Liga champions they're fighting a losing battle in their ongoing efforts to lure the Argentinian to the Nou Camp.

Benitez will also deliver another blow to the Catalans by securing Pepe Reina's new deal after Christmas.

But he fears Mascherano will become a pawn in the next round of Barca presidential elections, with Sandro Rossell and Agosti Benedito planning to make his signing a key election pledge.

Benitez was called directly by Barca officials last summer when he told them not to bother making a formal offer for the player.

Although Mascherano was unhappy with Liverpool's decision at the time, Benitez thinks he's winning over the 25-year-old midfielder with the promise of a new deal.

"We were talking with him and his agent a month ago about our idea and his idea," said Benitez.

"Everyone can see he's doing really well and has come back to his best. We were really pleased to talk to him to make progress. We have plenty of time but we are happy with him and he is happier now, too.

"He has two more years on his contract, we were talking before and we will sit down sooner rather than later and talk about the future.

"The last conversations that we had were very positive."

While Liverpool sweat on whether Mascherano will publicly commit himself to the club - the player kissed his badge after creating the first in last week's Merseyside derby - there are no such fears about Reina. He recently told Sport of the World he would 'die for the Liverpool shirt' amid more interest from Barcelona.

The signing of keeper Reina on a new four-year-deal worth £90,000 a week should be a formality after Christmas.

"We are very happy with him," said Benitez. "He has been improving every single year and he will improve more because goalkeepers have more time in their career. He's always positive and he's one of the best in the training sessions because his attitude is always good.

"It depends on the agent and what the player wants but Pepe is very happy here in Liverpool so I don't see a big problem.

"The team- mates love him because he's a very good example."

Meanwhile, Benitez has warned FIFA they risk burning out the world's biggest stars with their increasingly demanding international schedule. Benitez fears Fernando Torres injury woes are partially down to a lack of summer rest, especially when he appeared in last June's Confederations Cup.

"National teams have a lot of competitions, official games and friendly games. There are too many for me," he said.

"That's especially right when we are talking the main players in the world. They play too many tournaments.

"Something has to change. It is something people in charge have to analyse."

Benitez will finally take the opportunity to unleash Alberto Aquilani in midweek as Liverpool face Fiorentina in a sadly irrelevant Champions League clash.

Skipper Steven Gerrard is likely to sit out the game ahead of the Premier League clash with Arsenal.

But Benitez is also determined not to bow out of Europe with a whimper.

He said: "We have to analyse carefully because we want to win, that is the first thing, and to play well and play a good game for our fans if it's possible. So we will see.

"I don't know what Fiorentina will do but we want to do things properly."

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